Being Human

• Episode 223: When Following God Wrecks Your Plans - In The Best Way!

  What happens when you say yes to God - and it turns your whole life upside down? In this powerful episode, Dr. Greg sits down with Jake and Heather Kim, two of the featured speakers at the upcoming Summit of Integration, to talk about marriage, mission, and radical trust. With honesty, humor, and deep wisdom, they unpack what it means to follow the Holy Spirit through seasons of change, simplicity, and surrender - while staying rooted in love, relationship, and the everyday reality of family life. Whether you're married, discerning, or navigating your own leap of faith, this conversation will inspire you to see your story through the lens of grace.   Key Topics: How radical trust in God led Jake and Heather Kim into a season of major life transition What it means to live out simplicity, change, and mission in marriage and ministry The beauty and challenge of following the Holy Spirit without a detailed roadmap Why ongoing marriage counseling is a strength, not a sign of failure The difference between resuscitating something in your relationship vs. inviting God to resurrect it Learn More: Summit of Integration – Join us in-person or virtually for the CatholicPsych Summit of Integration, featuring powerful speakers, worship with Matt Maher, and transformative conversations on becoming who God created you to be. Life Restoration Ministries – Explore the healing and discipleship ministry led by Jake and Heather Kim. Restore the Glory Podcast – Hosted by Jake Kim and Dr. Bob Schuchts, focused on healing the whole person through Catholic teaching and personal transformation. Abiding Together Podcast – Co-hosted by Heather Kim, Sister Miriam James, and Michelle Benzinger—offering weekly conversations on faith, healing, and community. Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment   Follow Us on Socials: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter (X) | LinkedIn  

  --------  

  57:12
• Episode 222: Three Places AI Can Never Go

  What happens when AI starts to feel like a friend - but isn't one? In this final installment of our AI series, Dr. Greg explores the growing ability of artificial intelligence to mirror human behavior - and why, no matter how convincing it gets, it can never truly love or choose. Drawing from the Catholic tradition and John Paul II’s personalism, we unpack the deep spiritual and psychological truths of freedom and love - and why real relationship can only happen between persons. If you’ve ever felt both amazed and uneasy about the rise of AI, this conversation will challenge and ground you in what it really means to be human.   Key Topics: Why AI may soon be indistinguishable from a real person - and why that matters The core differences between mimicking humanity and being human How real love requires real freedom—and why AI can’t offer either How tools like AI can support human flourishing—but not replace human relationship The danger of substituting digital connection for true communion Learn More: CatholicPsych Mentorship Program – Explore professional accompaniment grounded in Catholic anthropology and designed to foster real human growth and healing. CatholicPsych Podcast Archive – Search past episodes by topic and dive deeper into conversations on AI, psychology, faith, and the human person. Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment   Follow Us on Socials: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter (X) | LinkedIn

  --------  

  32:43
• Episode 221: Is AI Really More Effective Than Your Therapist?

  In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Greg explores the rising influence of artificial intelligence in therapy and why no machine, no matter how advanced, can truly replicate what it means to be human. Drawing from Pope St. John Paul II’s theology of the person, he explains the irreplaceable dignity of real human connection - and why healing, growth, and love can only happen in relationship with another person. Whether you're fascinated by tech, worried about where it's all headed, or just craving a deeper understanding of what makes us human, this conversation offers a powerful reminder of our unique identity and mission.   Key Topics: The fundamental difference between knowing about a person and truly knowing them The irreplaceable role of human relationship in healing and growth Why Catholic psychology insists on the sacredness of the human person How technology often reflects our cultural misunderstanding of what it means to be human How AI lacks the one thing essential for real therapy: love   Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 4:55 - The Church’s View on Technology 9:30 - AI in Mental Health & Therapy 11:30 - Introducing 4 Human-Only Traits (Overview) 12:47 - Horizontal Transcendence (Relationality) 15:16 - False Relationships with AI 21:05 - Part 1 Conclusion 21:49 - Recap of Part 1 (Horizontal Transcendence) 24:45 - Vertical Transcendence Learn More: CatholicPsych Podcast Page – Browse past episodes and search transcripts by topic, including previous discussions on AI and spirituality. CatholicPsych Mentorship – Learn more about accompaniment services rooted in Catholic anthropology. Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment   Follow Us on Socials: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter (X) | LinkedIn  

  --------  

  34:50
• Episode 220: Do Catholic Therapists Just Add a Rosary to the Session?

  What makes therapy Catholic—and is it really just adding a rosary to the session? In this unique episode, Dr. Greg is the one answering the questions, sitting down with college student Lucina Frank who’s wrestling with how to bring her faith into the world of psychology. Their conversation pulls back the curtain on why CatholicPsych’s approach feels so different—because it is—and how it responds to the deep hunger for healing that actually honors both our humanity and our faith. Whether you’ve been skeptical, searching, or simply curious, you’ll walk away seeing therapy—and the Church’s role in it—through a whole new lens.   Key Topics: Why “just adding prayer” isn’t what makes therapy Catholic The real difference between faith-informed and faith-integrated therapy How a Catholic understanding of suffering changes the entire therapeutic goal What St. John Paul II’s personalism offers that secular psychology can’t How CatholicPsych is meeting a deeper need in the Church—and why it matters The danger of over-spiritualizing therapy (and how to avoid it)   Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 03:07 – From Divorce to Vocation: Dr. Greg’s Journey to Becoming a Therapist 09:05 – What’s the Therapeutic Approach at CatholicPsych? 13:15 – Leading Clients Toward True Human Flourishing 17:00 – Therapy Isn’t About Erasing Suffering 21:32 – Faith-Informed vs. Faith-Integrated Therapy 28:54 – Do Catholic Therapists Just Add a Rosary to the Sessions? 32:19 – Where Does Spiritual Direction Fit in Therapy? 41:12 – Why St. Thomas Aquinas Still Matters in Modern Psychology 46:22 – What St. Thomas Got Wrong about Gender Learn More: CatholicPsych’s model of daily accompaniment: Integrated Daily Dialogic Mentorship  Spiritual Passages by Fr. Benedict Groeschel Discernment of Spirits course by Dr. Greg Bottaro Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Mulieris Dignitatem by Pope John Paul II Related Episode: Ep. 197: Correcting Aquinas: JP2’s Truth Bomb on Gender and Human Dignity Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment     Follow Us on Socials: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter (X) | LinkedIn

  --------  

  54:49
• Episode 219: A Secular Therapist Asked for My Take

  What happens when someone outside the faith asks for your honest take on one of today’s most controversial issues? In this episode, Dr. Greg shares a conversation with secular therapist and podcast host Stephanie Winn, who came with real curiosity: What does Catholic psychology say about gender ideology? Even without sharing the same faith background, Stephanie engages deeply—and the result is a rich dialogue that offers clarity, compassion, and truth.   Key Topics: How to speak about gender truthfully and compassionately Why Catholic anthropology offers clarity in a confused culture The psychological roots of gender confusion and identity struggles The difference between repression and integration in Catholic psychology A merciful, hopeful vision of healing for those struggling with gender and identity wounds   Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction and Why a Secular Therapist Wanted a Catholic Take 08:00 – Can Faith, Reason, and Science Really Work Together? 19:35 – Making the Leap of Faith When Understanding Falls Short 25:35 – The Scandal of Psychology: No Answer to “What Is a Person?” 29:58 – Fractured Identity: Dr. Greg Reflects on His Parents’ Divorce 31:16 – Stephanie Reflects: I Didn’t Know My Struggles Were from a Father Wound 35:13 – Lack of Compassion Is Missing from Religious Approaches 38:42 – Using the Blueprint to Help Those Suffering with Gender Issues 46:44 – Digging into the Causes of Gender Identity Struggles   Learn More: Check out You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist Podcast, hosted by Stephanie Winn LMFT For the second half of this conversation, listen to Ep. 218: A Conversation with a Secular Therapist: Unveiling the Blueprint of the Human Person Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II) Need help? Schedule a free CatholicPsych consultation to learn more about the daily accompaniment of Mentorship. Want to help? Learn more about our Certification in Professional Accompaniment. Follow Us on Socials: Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter (X) | LinkedIn

  --------  

  53:33

More Religion & Spirituality podcasts

Trending Religion & Spirituality podcasts

About Being Human