Episode 150: Gathering the Graces: Celebrating 150 Episodes
This week, Jake and Bob celebrate the 150th episode of Restore the Glory! They take a moment to reflect on the story of how the podcast came to be, new insights learned, and their hopes for the future. This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at what God has done in not only their lives but also the lives of listeners.
Episode 149: Healing In Men (Part 1) w/ John Edwards
This week, Jake and Bob welcome John Edwards, a fellow guy in the pew, to share his raw and redemptive journey from addiction and secrecy to finding his identity in God. From outward success and hidden cocaine use to the devastating loss of his mother, John reveals how grief, shame, and a longing for affirmation shaped his choices—and nearly destroyed his marriage and family. He opens up about the masks he wore, the lies he believed about God as a harsh judge, and the panic attacks that finally exposed the prison he was living in. With honesty and courage, John recounts the night he chose confession over isolation, and how mercy began to break through years of self-reliance and despair. If you’ve ever felt abandoned by God or buried under your own failures, this conversation is an invitation to bring your whole story into the light.
Episode 148: Communion, Healing & Desire
This week, Jake and Bob reflect on a few topics that were discussed during a recent “Holy Desire” Priest’s retreat with the JPII Healing Center. They discuss the connection between communion with God and the removal of pain, how woundedness redirects good desires, and why coping strategies are not usually virtuous. Jake and Bob also answer a few questions received from priests at the retreat, such as—Am I using wounds as an excuse for sin? What is the difference between soul ties and enmeshment? And should I share my wounds with my parents?
Episode 147: Deliverance and Healing (Part 4) w/ fr. Boniface Hicks
This week, Jake and Bob conclude their series on deliverance and healing by welcoming Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB to the show. Together, they explore deliverance, not as a fixation on removing darkness, but as the ongoing work of living in the freedom of God’s love. Fr. Boniface reframes spiritual warfare using the analogy of relationships and stories, and how our identities are shaped by our understanding of truth and love. They address common fears and misconceptions about spiritual warfare that have been fueled by culture and the practical role of prayer in helping us find the freedom Christ desires for us.
Episode 146: Deliverance and Healing (Part 2) w/ Dr. Sean Tobin
This week, Jake and Bob welcome Dr. Sean Tobin, author and psychologist, to explore the reality of spiritual warfare and deliverance ministry. Dr. Sean reframes deliverance not as a battle to fear but as a process of centering our hearts in Christ. They discuss how fear, self-reliance, and isolation fragment the soul, why the simplicity of love and praise is more powerful than you think, and the proper balance between technique and communion. This is a hopeful conversation about spiritual battle, one rooted not in fear, but in confidence in a Father who relentlessly pursues healing, wholeness, and communion with His children.
Episode 145: Deliverance and Healing (Part 1)
This week, Jake and Bob discuss the relationship between healing, deliverance, and spiritual warfare. They explore the nature of spiritual strongholds (patterns of thoughts or beliefs that oppose the reality of who God is) and why these strongholds often obstruct emotional and spiritual healing. Jake and Bob also nuance the distinction between ordinary and extraordinary experiences of grace and how the supernatural is hidden within the quiet or ordinary moments. Finally, they address the role of spiritual authority within the Church, the importance of recognizing your own authority, and why authentic healing flows from relationship with Christ rather than technique.
Episode 144: Healing & Theology of the Body with Jason Evert
This week, Jake and Bob are joined by Jason Evert, a Catholic speaker, author, and expert on the Theology of the Body. Together they explore the history of gender theory, how contraception shifted culture, and why it’s important to root our identity in God. They also discuss how wounds and unmet needs are often tied to the experience of gender dysphoria and how our culture avoids addressing the source of suffering.
Episode 143: Identity
This week, Jake and Bob discuss identity: why it matters, how it is formed, and its role in the healing process. We live in a fallen world with an enemy who spreads lies that can send us down paths far from the truth of who we are. Through questions like “Who am I?”, “Whose am I?”, and “Do I belong?” Jake and Bob explore how to reclaim our God-given identity and rest in the freedom of living in that truth.
Episode 142: Healing & Prayer
This week, Jake and Bob explore how inner healing is rooted within the tradition of the Catholic Church. Drawing from the Catechism, they discuss the three expressions of prayer—vocal, meditative, and contemplative—and how each form is incorporated within the inner healing process. Far from being a psychological exercise, inner healing comes from a deeply relational encounter with Jesus and restores the whole person so we might live in deeper communion with Him.
Episode 141: Desire (Part 2) w/ Dr. Shane Owens
This week, Jake and Bob welcome Dr. Shane Owens to explore how desire, the heart, and theology work together for our good, through the lens of St. Augustine’s Confessions. Dr. Owens breaks down St. Augustine’s healing journey and how by understanding the desires motivating our actions, we are led into deeper communion with God. They also discuss how memories shape our view of reality, why we distrust a good God, and what the Scriptures teach us about our identity.
Episode 140: Desire (Part 1)
This week, Jake and Bob begin a two part series on desire and how it relates to sin. They discuss how sin arises from a desire for good and how our woundedness shapes these patterns of sin. Rather than suppressing our desires, Jake and Bob reflect on the goodness of desire and the importance of rightly ordering it through prayer. Through personal stories and movie references, they end by walking you through practical ways to identify the holy desires beneath your struggles.
Episode 139: Philosophy and Healing w/ Fr. Matthew Rolling
This week, Jake and Bob welcome Fr. Matthew Rolling to the show to discuss healing through the lens of Thomistic philosophy. The path to healing isn’t a straight path and sometimes our experiences in life cloud our perception of reality. Fr. Matthew explains why philosophy helps us find truth and how it can redirect us when we become confused within our healing journeys. They also explore how sin affects healing, the role of our passions, and the importance of grace.
Episode 138: Sports, Athletics & Faith (Part 3) w/ Fr. Burke Masters and Trevor Williams
This week, Jake and Bob conclude their series on athletics by welcoming Fr. Burke Masters, the baseball priest, and Trevor Williams, the Washington Nationals pitcher, to the show! Together they discuss finding your identity in Christ when your job is about performing well, evangelizing as a professional athlete, and how sports can aid you in becoming a better Christian. Fr. Burke and Trevor also share how God led them to athletics, the story of how they met, and play a fun game with Jake and Bob at the end of the episode.
Episode 137: Sports, Athletics & Faith (Part 2) w/ Bart Schuchts
This week, Jake and Bob continue their series on athletics, and welcome Bart Schuchts, a former D1 football player, to the podcast. Bart reflects on how athletics shaped his self-identity, beliefs, and relationships from childhood through his adult life. They also discuss sports culture, fear based coaching, and the fine line between healthy competition and idolizing sports. Ultimately, when approached with balance and intention, athletics can foster deep connection, personal growth, and spiritual insight that extends far beyond the game itself, enriching every aspect of life.
Episode 136: Sports, Athletics & Faith (Part 1) w/ Dr. Nicole Gabana Chiesa
This week, Jake and Bob begin a series on athletics, diving into the profound ways sports intersect with faith. Today, they are joined by Dr. Nicole Gabana Chiesa, a sports psychologist and former collegiate athlete. Together they explore the beauty of sports and how they can shape one’s identity, foster virtue, and offer opportunities for healing that extend far beyond the playing field. However, athletics present many challenges beyond just physical injury. They also discuss the dangers of over-identifying with athletic success or failure, the impact of parental and societal expectations, and emphasize the importance of rooting one’s identity in God’s unconditional love rather than achievements.
Episode 135: Integrating Faith & Therapy (Part 3) w/ Beth Stoll
This week, Jake and Bob conclude their series on integrating faith with psychology. They welcome Beth Stoll, a therapist from St. Louis, to talk about how an encounter with God’s love at a Healing the Whole Person retreat transformed her practice. She not only shares how suffering creates a greater capacity for empathy but also why therapists who have experienced deep suffering themselves are able to more deeply connect with clients. They also discuss why one must first live a life of faith before integrating faith in their practice, define the difference between praying with and praying for someone, and reflect on the challenges of trusting God rather than our own abilities.
Episode 134: Integrating Faith & Therapy (Part 2) w/ Christopher Lafitte
This week, Jake and Bob continue their series on integrating faith with psychology and welcome Christopher Lafitte, a Catholic counselor based in Texas. Christopher shares his story of formation, from aspiring engineer to therapist, and about the deep encounter with Christ that shaped his journey. They discuss Christopher’s unique approach to counseling, why loving one another is healing in itself, and how a therapists’ own wounds can become blind spots in their ability to help clients. Throughout all of this, Christopher reflects on how nothing in our lives will make sense apart from the reality we are made for communion with God. So whenever we approach therapy or personal healing, we should always remember Jesus wants to heal us so we can be in relationship with Him.
Episode 133: Integrating Faith & Therapy (Part 1) w/ Bernhard Streisselberger
This week, Jake and Bob begin a new series where they welcome therapists from around the world to discuss the integration of faith in psychology, real life lessons learned, and the various methodologies they practice. Today, they are joined by Bernhard Streiselberger, a Professional Counselor from Austria, who specializes in Gestalt therapy and EMDR. Bernhard shares his journey from studying psychotherapy in Austria to being formed in monastic life and how it has shaped his approach to therapy. He also delves into the details of Gestalt therapy and the Immanuel approach, how these methodologies have positively impacted his clients, and why affirmation is a key component in everyone’s healing journey.
Episode 132: Healing, Discipleship and the Heart w/ John Eldredge
This week, Jake and Bob are joined by John Eldredge, president of Wild at Heart, to discuss what authentic discipleship looks like in a distracted digital age. They explore the subtle ways constant connectivity and information overload can erode our spiritual focus, hinder intimacy with God, and ultimately fragment our souls. John also shares stories and insights from his own journey, highlights how unchecked busyness can mask deeper wounds or spiritual emptiness, and encourages listeners, with practical advice, to seek genuine communion with Jesus for true restoration.
Episode 131: Forgiveness and Spiritual Renewal w/ Fr. John Horn
This week, Jake and Bob are joined by Fr. John Horn, co-founder of the Institute for Priestly Formation (IPF). Fr. Horn shares details behind how IPF was founded, the significance of St. Ignatius' spiritual exercises in priestly formation, and the beauty of how formation has evolved within the Church. They also discuss the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the importance of addressing the roots of sin, and the heart-level transformation that occurs when we bring our fears to the Lord.