Best Missionary Formation Podcasts (2025)

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Pope Leo XIV's First 100 Days as Pope 1:10:56

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3h ago1:10:56

1:10:56

Fr. Sam and Matt discuss some of the elements of Pope Leo XIV's papacy they've been encouraged and edified by. They also "predict" some of the things they are excited to see from the new Pope in the coming months and years. Some topics include: Pope Leo XIV's work with youth, especially how he's engaging NCYC Pope Leo's Augustinian roots Pope Leo's…

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Stop Polishing Your Binoculars for Other People's Sins 27:28

5h ago27:28

27:28

Send us a text Our eyes reveal the condition of our hearts. When we measure ourselves against others, searching for someone “worse” to feel better about ourselves, we slip into what Jesus called an “evil eye.” This perspective is fueled by pride and fear, pride that elevates us above others and fear that, without comparison, we may not measure up. …

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Brian A. Stauffer, "Victory on Earth or in Heaven: Mexico’s Religionero Rebellion" (U New Mexico Press, 2019) 1:02:15

1d ago1:02:15

1:02:15

In Victory on Earth or in Heaven: Mexico’s Religionero Rebellion (University of New Mexico Press, 2019), Brian A. Stauffer reconstructs the history of Mexico's forgotten "Religionero" rebellion of 1873-1877, an armed Catholic challenge to the government of Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada. An essentially grassroots movement--organized by indigenous, Afro-…

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The Distorted Lens: How Our Hearts Shape Our Vision 18:03

3d ago18:03

18:03

Send us a text What shapes the way you see the world around you? In this conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield unpack the profound truth that what fills your heart determines what you notice and how you interpret life. Just like buying a Tesla suddenly makes you see them everywhere, your spiritual focus shapes your perception of reality.…

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Pallottine Charism and Saint Vincent Pallotti 19:07

3d ago19:07

19:07

St. Vincent Pallotti founded the Union of Catholic Apostolate and the later developed Pallottine Fathers and Brothers to encourage collaboration between clergy, religious, and lay people to evangelize in every day life. Connor Combs and Sebastian Fernandez, Summer Associates at the Catholic Apostolate Center, join this episode of On Mission with Ch…

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The Battle Between Two Masters: Heaven's Treasures vs. Worldly Desires 20:39

4d ago20:39

20:39

Send us a text Jesus’ words about the eye being “the lamp of the body” in Matthew 6 have left many people puzzled. In this heartfelt conversation, Austin Gardner and Robert Canfield dive into one of Christ’s most often misunderstood teachings and show how it speaks directly to our spiritual priorities. Jesus was not changing subjects when He spoke …

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Studying Scripture and Wrestling with God and Man // Episode 245 19:13

6d ago19:13

19:13

There's a very cliched understanding of wanting to study the Bible the way that Jacob wrestled with God...which I wrestle with a little bit in this episode... As always, check out our work, and join our email list, at https://ouroutpost.org/ join our free resource library platform here catch our other podcast, Love Your Marriage, by clicking here: …

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Jesus: The Shepherd Who Chose the Cross for You 7:58

5d ago7:58

7:58

Send us a text When Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd,” He gave those words a depth that has changed lives for centuries. In this episode, we explore the beauty behind that declaration and why it still matters today. We’ll see how the original language shows that Jesus isn’t just “morally good,” but noble, beautiful, and interesting, the Shepherd…

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From Detached to Deeply Loved 23:52

7d ago23:52

23:52

Many people are "thinkers" and "doers" whose natural tendency is to analyze their emotions and those of others. It's certainly true that reason and action are valuable parts of being human. But getting stuck in your head leaves you detached and lonely. Thankfully you can learn to feel and heal with Jesus and others. Tune in for this episode of Soul…

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Forgiveness: The Ultimate Test of Love 11:45

6d ago11:45

11:45

Send us a text Have you ever wondered what matters most in life? In this episode, we walk through Mark 12:28-34 and discover the freeing truth behind the greatest commandment. Jesus doesn’t give us another burden to carry. He shows us what naturally happens when His love fills our hearts. The law says, “You must.” The gospel says, “This is what hap…

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The Partnership to End Human Trafficking 57:06

7d ago57:06

57:06

Fr. Sam flies solo on this week's episode of the Tangent, interviewing Cece Donoghue and Jamie Manirakiza about PEHT, the Partnership to End Human Trafficking. They tackle some of the difficult questions that surround human trafficking: How do you spot trafficking? How can you protect your kids from trafficking? Is there anything we can do? This we…

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From Cave to Cathedral: Finding God in Your Darkest Moments 29:49

7d ago29:49

29:49

Send us a text How do you move from the pit of depression to the pinnacle of blessing? From self-pity to divine joy? In this message from Shady Grove Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia, I open Psalm 23 and walk through David’s remarkable journey. Hunted, hiding in a cave, overwhelmed by sorrow, yet he discovers that what is really pursuing him is …

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When You've Been Wronged: Why God Keeps Vengeance for Himself 32:13

10d ago32:13

32:13

Send us a text Have you ever been so wronged that your heart burned for revenge? That desire feels like justice, but it’s not the same thing at all. In this podcast, we explore the life-giving truth behind God’s words, “Vengeance is Mine.” Far from limiting us, this promise frees us from the exhausting burden of trying to make things right on our o…

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When We Follow Christ, Our Hearts Become Like His 26:50

11d ago26:50

26:50

Send us a text What if following Jesus wasn’t about proving yourself, but simply learning from Him? In this heartfelt living room conversation with friends Chris, David, and Robert, we explore Jesus’ invitation to “come learn of me” and discover how it changes everything. So many of us live under the exhausting pressure to earn God’s approval. But …

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Basic Human Formation for the Apostolate // Episode 244 18:00

13d ago18:00

18:00

Apostolicam Actuositatem says we ought to have a certain human and well-rounded formation before being trained for the apostolate...and yet so often spiritual, intellectual, and practical formation for the apostolate is offered to people with no regard to their human formation. Listen in to find out more! As always, check out our work, and join our…

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The Forgotten Heart of Christ: Meekness in a World of Striving 34:10

12d ago34:10

34:10

Send us a text What if rest wasn’t about doing less, but about being with the right Teacher? In Matthew 11, Jesus gives the only self-description of His heart in the whole Bible: “I am meek and lowly.” And in the same breath, He invites us to take His yoke and find rest for our souls. In Jesus’ day, a rabbi’s “yoke” meant his interpretation of the …

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From "Too Sensitive" to Deeply Loved 27:02

14d ago27:02

27:02

Are your big feelings misunderstood by others? All of us have tender parts of ourselves that long for a safe place to call home. Sadly, it's easy for sensitivity to get rejected as "too emotional" or "unbiblical." Yet Jesus the Feeler welcomes our emotions and cares for us in his empathetic love. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and K…

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Dwelling in the House of the Lord: David's Journey from Battle to Belonging 10:01

13d ago10:01

10:01

Send us a text Already Home. Dwelling in the Presence of God Finding our true home in God’s presence changes everything about how we see our lives and our faith. In this final message on Psalm 23, we reflect on David’s profound declaration, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” and what it means for us today. The Hebrew word for “dwell” …

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Pope Leo XIV's Message to Digital Missionaries and Influencers 1:21:22

14d ago1:21:22

1:21:22

Fr. Sam and Matt sit down to discuss the modern apostolate of being a digital missionary or influencer by breaking down Pope Leo XIV's recent address. Shownotes Read Pope Leo XIV's address here Email List Other Veritas Shows Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank Caggiano Daily Gospel Reflections Restless Catholic Young Adults the Frontline with Joe & J…

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You Are Never Alone: The Shepherd Stays When Everyone Else Leaves 8:20

14d ago8:20

8:20

Send us a text Never Alone Discovering the Shepherd’s Presence in Psalm 23 The most profound truth about your life is that you are never alone. Today, we step back into Psalm 23, where David, facing some of his darkest moments, anchors his hope in the unshakable presence of the Shepherd. David doesn’t boast about perfect circumstances or having eve…

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From Eden to Eternity: God's Desire to Be With Us 10:46

17d ago10:46

10:46

Send us a text Dwelling With God. The Heartbeat of Scripture What if the central theme of the Bible isn’t rules, rituals, or religious performance, but God’s relentless desire to be with His people? In this final message on Psalm 23, we explore the breathtaking truth behind David’s words, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” From evenin…

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Charly Coleman, "The Spirit of French Capitalism: Economic Theology in the Age of Enlightenment" (Stanford UP, 2021) 1:02:34

17d ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Charly Coleman's latest book, The Spirit of French Capitalism: Economic Theology in the Age of Enlightenment (Stanford University Press, 2021) is at once a history of ideas, the economy, religion, and material culture. Pursuing the imbrication of the economy and theology with respect to both worldly and spiritual value and wealth, the book explores…

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David de Boer, "The Early Modern Dutch Press in an Age of Religious Persecution" (Oxford UP, 2023) 34:47

17d ago34:47

34:47

David de Boer returns to the podcast to talk to Jana Byars about his first book, The Early Modern Dutch Press in the Age of Religious Persecution (Oxford UP, 2023). This book is available open source here. For victims of persecution around the world, attracting international media attention for their plight is often a matter of life and death. This…

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Friends Help You Stay Catholic in College 32:25

17d ago32:25

32:25

College provides young adults opportunities to explore the larger world and get to know new people and experience new things. With that, many students drift away from the Catholic Faith while in school. However, a group of peers to hold each other accountable and provide motivation to grow in relationship with Jesus can help students thrive in coll…

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Fear Is Misplaced Worship: How to Trust God When Everything Falls Apart 31:02

18d ago31:02

31:02

Send us a text Episode Title: I Will Fear No Evil Fear has a way of showing what we truly worship. Whether it’s bridges and airplanes or financial ruin and health scares, our deepest anxieties expose the authority we’ve given to our circumstances. In this episode, we explore Psalm 23:4 and discover that fear is more than an emotion; it’s actually m…

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Life on Mission with Benjamin Stenlund // Episode 243 58:18

20d ago58:18

58:18

I interview Benjamin Stenlund, former FOCUS missionary, current husband/father/craftsman, both about his time as a full-time missionary and what he's been up to since! Find his work at https://www.benjaminstenlund.com/ As always, check out our work, and join our email list, at https://ouroutpost.org/ join our free resource library platform here cat…

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Bacon, Butter & Beyond: The Surprising Freedom of Meat-Based Eating 45:54

19d ago45:54

45:54

Send us a text Are you ready to transform your relationship with food, not just for a short time, but for good? Join us for an honest conversation with Katie, who discovered a new freedom through the carnivore diet after years of battling cravings and confusion. This is not a diet fad or a one-size-fits-all promise. Katie’s journey is about letting…

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Being Immersed in the Beauty and Goodness of the Trinity 23:58

21d ago23:58

23:58

All of us can fall asleep to the reality of God's trinitarian presence and slip into making life happen on our own. Yet the Three-Person God shows us how deeply relational he is and invites us to fully immerse ourselves in intimate friendship with him. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kristi help you wake up to the spiritual truth…

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Overflowing Grace, My cup runneth over 10:37

20d ago10:37

10:37

Send us a text Psalm 23 is poetry for people in dark places. In this episode, we step into David’s words, “my cup runs over,” and discover what it means to find God’s abundance right in the middle of pain, betrayal, and loss. David didn’t write from a palace. He wrote from a cave, surrounded by threats and uncertainty. Yet he still saw God’s goodne…

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Prayer, Seminary Formation, and St. Michael's Lent - with Jamie Baxter @Exodus90 1:26:48

21d ago1:26:48

1:26:48

In this conversation, Matt, Fr. Sam and Jamie Baxter discusses the origin and impact of Exodus 90 on personal and communal faith journeys. They share personal stories of conversion, the origins and goals of the program, and the importance of intentionality in spiritual growth. The discussion also highlights the challenges faced in seminary formatio…

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The Carnivore Diet: Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit 22:35

21d ago22:35

22:35

Send us a text “Sugar is delicious. You’re lying if you say it’s not,” Katie laughs, and she means it. But for two years now, she hasn’t touched the stuff. Not because of iron willpower, but because life on the carnivore diet has changed her from the inside out emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. For years, mood swings and low moments just felt…

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Meat & Mercy: How the Carnivore Diet Changed Everything 25:11

24d ago25:11

25:11

Send us a text Could eating only meat really change your life? For missionary mom Katie Gardner, the answer was a surprising yes. After years of feeling unwell, exhausted, battling hormonal chaos, and hearing the phrase “your tests look normal” from doctors who had no real answers, Katie stumbled across a radical idea online: the carnivore diet. At…

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You Are Never Alone: David's Final Realization in Psalm 23 8:20

25d ago8:20

8:20

Send us a text Followed by Mercy: The Shepherd Who Never Lets Go Do you realize that God has been pursuing you from the very start? In this episode, we dive into the final verse of Psalm 23, where David confidently declares, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This isn’t just the happy ending to a famous psalm. It’s the beautiful truth…

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Playfulness in the Christian Life // Episode 242 23:07

27d ago23:07

23:07

One of the coolest lines from Proverbs describes what Wisdom has been doing from the beginning: "[T]hen I was beside him, like a master worker, and I was daily his delight, playing before him always, playing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race" (Proverbs 8:30-31). Wisdom's playfulness and delight model for us a holy call to play…

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Chased by Mercy 11:26

26d ago11:26

11:26

Send us a text Have you ever stopped to wonder if God’s goodness is actually chasing you down even when it feels like everything else is falling apart? In this episode, we dig deep into the words of Psalm 23:6 and discover that “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me” means much more than just trailing behind. In the original Hebrew, “follow” de…

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STORYTIME! Ripped from the MK Headlines 15:52

27d ago15:52

15:52

A ripped-from-the-headlines real-life story about three MKs...and thirteen police officers. ••• Thank you, friends, for clicking on this episode of the Pondering Purple podcast, a source of information, insight and inspiration for those who love MKs and those who are MKs. ••• This episode is based on an excerpt from Pieces of Purple, my brand new b…

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Enjoying God Here and Now 23:52

28d ago23:52

23:52

Most Christians know the importance of taking their faith seriously. But getting too serious when it comes to spiritual disciplines or ministry responsibilities can miss God's heart for relationship. Thankfully, our loving and joyful Papa wants to help us move from duty into sharing his delight. Join us for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and Kr…

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When Your Cup Runs Over: Finding Abundance in Life's Dark Valleys 12:55

27d ago12:55

12:55

Send us a text How could David write, "my cup runs over," when his life was falling apart or had already fallen apart? Let's take a look at Psalm 23 and the story behind it. David didn't write from a place of safety or celebration. He was running for his life, barefoot and heartbroken, surrounded by betrayal and loss. Yet somehow, in the shadows, h…

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Liturgical Norms in a Universal Church 1:22:24

28d ago1:22:24

1:22:24

Fr. Sam and Matt discuss the importance of liturgical norms in the universal church. That might seem like a topic that covers rubrics alone, but the core of the topic is how to balance diversity while maintaining unity in worship. Thus, Church governance, liturgical preferences, canon law, and authentic worship are all covered. Email List: www.veri…

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Chasing God, Not Performance: A Father-Son Chat About Identity 18:30

28d ago18:30

18:30

Send us a text What if everything you believed about your spiritual worth was built on a misunderstanding? That inner critic telling you “you’re not enough” isn’t just mistaken, it’s denying the truth Christ has already spoken. In this deeply personal episode of Followed by Mercy, Austin Gardner sits down with his son, David, a missionary who has s…

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Your Shame Is Gone: How God Restores Dignity When You Feel Broken 11:23

1M ago11:23

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Send us a text Have you ever felt the crushing weight of shame? That heaviness that makes you want to keep your head down and hide from the world? “Thou anointest my head with oil,” those words from Psalm 23, offer a remedy that speaks to the heart of every person who’s ever felt unworthy. David didn’t write this verse from the comfort of his palac…

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Social Media Practices for Catholic Ministries and Apostolates 35:26

1M ago35:26

35:26

Social media is a powerful tool for Catholic ministries and evangelizers to spread the message of the Gospel, build community, and dialogue with others. Ministries, apostolates, and non-profits must keep in mind that serves the purpose of drawing people into a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus in and through the Church, most particularl…

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Anointed with Oil: Finding Identity When Everything Falls Apart 10:33

1M ago10:33

10:33

Send us a text Ever feel like you’re hanging on by a thread? Like David hiding in a cave, surrounded by trouble, wondering if you’ll ever see daylight again? That’s exactly where Psalm 23 comes alive, especially those simple words, “thou anointest my head with oil.” This episode, “Followed by Mercy,” goes below the surface of Psalm 23 and digs deep…

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Marriage on Mission with Mike and Alicia Hernon // Episode 241 47:44

1M ago47:44

47:44

Wherein Joseph and Crystal host Mike and Alicia Hernon from the Messy Family Project. As always, check out our work, and join our email list, at https://ouroutpost.org/ join our free resource library platform here catch our other podcast, Love Your Marriage, by clicking here: https://ouroutpost.org/podcasts/ see what we have upcoming in terms of ev…

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When We Surrender Control, God Provides Rest 27:48

1M ago27:48

27:48

Send us a text What if the secret to peace isn't gaining more control, but surrendering it? Do you ever feel like the world is spinning out of control, and it's up to you to hold everything together? In this episode, host Austin Gardner welcomes Robert Canfield, president of Taking the Light Ministries, for an honest conversation about a different …

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494 - Loving Sacrifice or Codependent Guilt? 23:27

1M ago23:27

23:27

Many Christians share Jesus' big heart for others and desire to love people like him. But all of us can fall prey to caring for others in a way that's fueled by our own unrecognized needs or wounds. Even good intentions can drain our souls and leave us feeling resentful towards ministry and people. Tune in for this episode of Soul Talks as Bill and…

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You Can't Outrun the Shepherd: How God's Love Transcends Our Failures 24:47

1M ago24:47

24:47

Send us a text Ever felt like God's love is something you have to earn? In today's episode, Austin Gardner sits down with Robert Canfield for a conversation that might breathe fresh hope into your weary soul. Together, they pull back the curtain on the exhausting cycle of performance-based religion—a cycle that leaves so many believers tired, asham…

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Suffering and Christian Prayer 1:25:32

1M ago1:25:32

1:25:32

Fr. Sam and Matt take a leap from Romans 8 into an entire discussion on the interplay between prayer and suffering. They discuss amongst other things: the role of good health in a good spiritual life, the pastoral necessity of good physical health, how everything needs to seen through Pope St. John Paul II's lens of "self-gift", the importance of b…

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You Are Never Abandoned: Discovering God's Presence in Your Pain 12:10

1M ago12:10

12:10

Send us a text Ever feel like you’re alone in the storm? Like the darkness is closing in, and nobody sees what you’re going through? What if the valley you’re dreading is the place where God wants to show you just how close He really is? Psalm 23 isn’t a song for the dead; it’s hope for the living. David wrote it while running for his life, betraye…

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Christopher Ocker, "Luther, Conflict, and Christendom: Reformation Europe and Christianity in the West" (Cambridge UP, 2018) 37:34

1M ago37:34

37:34

Martin Luther - monk, priest, intellectual, or revolutionary - has been a controversial figure since the sixteenth century. Most studies of Luther stress his personality, his ideas, and his ambitions as a church reformer. In Luther, Conflict, and Christendom: Reformation Europe and Christianity in the West (Cambridge UP, 2018), Christopher Ocker br…