Most Impactful Catholic Podcast Conversations of 2025
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Our community is blessed with a variety of Catholic podcast hosts.
Many have guests on their podcasts and I was wondering which guest really impacted them.
As a blogger who has always been about following other Catholic bloggers and working with them in different ways, I know I have read and heard some words from others that really impacted me and truly helped me be a better Christian.
Two that come to mind immediately are:
The reminder that the woman is the heart of the home.
This was a post written by Sara Estabrooks (To Jesus, Sincerely) years ago I often find myself thinking about that statement and reminding myself that is so true.
Another phrase that really struck me was from podcaster turned business owner Sterling Jacquith.
Sterling Jacquith once stated, “God never rushes”.
To this day I still think that statement is so powerful, so filled with truth and so NOT thought about by most of us, often.
I find myself often recalling that statement . . . “God never rushes”. It eases my mind and heart.
Words That Shaped My Own Faith Journey
In 2025, I interviewed Stacy Halbach (author of Bloom and Level Up). I occasionally interview other Catholics on our YouTube Channel (subscribe here) and out of the interviews I conducted here and on our Instagram account, this one stuck with me personally.
Stacy Halbach stresses how important seeking and creating moments of connection with our children is not only important but truly necessary. Listening to her speak about how important seeking connection and sharing quality time together really helps our children was really eye opening for me. It made me realize that the toddler that once needed lots of hugs in the morning to fill up his “love bucket” also needs connection as a tween and teen.
Since others in our community have helped my spiritual journey, I thought – there must be words of wisdom other members have gleaned too.
So, I asked the podcasters in the Catholics Online community these questions:
What episode of your podcast had the biggest impact on you in 2025?
Is there one thing a guest said that stuck with you? If so, what was it and can you share the episode link?
Was their one guest who just totally wowed you?
Have you found yourself thinking about that conversation more than all the others?
Here are some of the responses I received.
What 2025 Taught Us: Catholic Podcast Hosts Share “A-ha” Moments
Lesson #1: The 12 Steps is Not Enough if You Desire True Healing From Addiction
For Catholics who want to stop drinking in 2026, two different podcast episodes mentioned how the 12 Steps isn’t enough.
As the editor and curator of this post, I wasn’t expecting this. But since this message was not only mentioned by Christie Walker in The Catholic Sobriety Podcast, it seemed worth highlighting first.
Chisttie shared:
A solo episode that had the greatest impact on me and I’ve received the MOST feedback on is Ep: 131: AA Helped Me Quit Drinking—But the Lord Healed Me
It has to date been the MOST difficult for me to record but the Lord had been nudging me to do it for years – so I finally did. The feedback I have received has shown me why it was so important to put that part of my story out. 
Karen Estep, host of Stand, Kneel, Now What?, said:
“my best episode was with my friend/priest Fr. Mark, his testimony is still one of my favorites”
The episode, Father Mark Famuliner’s Testimony, consists of Father Mark sharing his journey to priesthood.
This journey was paired with alcoholism and recovery. At one point he says something very similar to what Christie also experienced. I had no idea when I started listening to this podcast episode that the topic of alcohol addiction was going to be mentioned. It seems as those this message that the 12 Steps not being enough is something, perhaps, the Holy Spirit wants others to know.
Listen to Father Mark’s Testimony here.
Lesson #2: Drinking so much that you wake up hungover isn’t living.
Christie Walker, host of The Catholic Sobriety Podcast, said this:
“If we are talking about episodes with guest, the one I have had the most feedback and impacted me most is Ep 136: “Becoming a Grandma Had Me Rethinking My Drinking” w/ Guest Cindy Strachan.
After over drinking the night before, Cindy Strachan went on a family trip to the aquarium, where, despite a mild hangover, she found herself too exhausted to fully engage with her grandson.
Cindy realized, “This isn’t living.” and didn’t want to be a drunk or hungover grandma.
That began her journey toward alcohol freedom.
If you want to drink less, or you are considering to really commit to stop drinking alcohol entirely, subscribe and listen to Christie Walker’s Catholic Sobriety Podcast
Lesson #3: Share your story.
Emanuela Hall, host of the The Speaking and Storytelling Podcast: for Christ-led Entrepreneurs + Leaders podcast, shared this:
“The episode that had the biggest impact on me had to be my episode with Claire Dwyer. [Do I Need to Write a Book? Resistance, Warfare and Saying Yes to the Call with Claire Dwyer]
The thing she said that stuck with me was that when we are sharing our stories the enemy will want to keep us quiet and will throw all kinds of interruptions and distractions our way. As creatives we must be ready by building consistent practices. Claire’s poise and professionalism really wowed and humbled me.
I would encourage all creative and/or aspiring storytellers to take a listen.”
Out of all the podcast episodes Emmanuela could share, she shared this one. Not only is this a powerful testiment to the message here, but again . . . the Holy Spirit is stressing the truth of how helpful your story can be to others.
How?
Look at Christie Walker’s response . . .
A solo episode that had the greatest impact on me and I’ve received the MOST feedback on isEp: 131: AA Helped Me Quit Drinking—But the Lord Healed Me
It has to date been the MOST difficult for me to record but the Lord had been nudging me to do it for years – so I finally did. The feedback I have received has shown me why it was so important to put that part of my story out.
Share your story.
Lesson #4: God can use your brokenness. God can turn our mistakes into something incredible.
Karen Estep, host of Stand, Kneel, Now What?, is a Catholic Convert and, personally, I think she is so funny!
As I mentioned earlier, Karen said her “my best episode was with my friend/priest Fr. Mark, his testimony is still one of my favorites”.
The reason why Karen shared this one was because she was so moved by Father’s story and how God used brokenness and mistakes to build up a great priest.
Lesson #5: Seek communion with God and live for souls
Persisting in Prayer Podcast host Kylie Hein shared that the interview that had the greatest impact on her personally was Courage and Clarity Amid Uncertainty with Fr. Donald Haggerty.
I’m closing the gape that seemed to just appear on my face as I finish typing this today.
Last night I attended a Prayer Wine Chocolate meet-up and one of my Rosary intentions was for “confidence and clarity”.
Look what episode Kylie Hein gave as her best episode of 2025.
“While my listeners may disagree, one of the episodes that had the biggest impact on me in 2025 was #103 Courage and Clarity Amid Uncertainty with Fr. Donald Haggerty.
Courage and Clarity Amid Uncertainty with Fr. Donald Haggerty. I had heard Fr. Haggerty’s name come up in my spiritual direction classes numerous times, but had never read his work. When I finally did in preparation for my interview, it changed me. Even more so, a line that he spoke in the interview has stuck with me ever since.
“I am here to live for souls.” I find myself reflecting on that all of the time!
Everything that I do – my work, my parenting, my prayer, my cleaning, my writing, my podcasting – if done well, it is all for souls.
If I’m not doing that, what am I even doing?
Fr. Haggerty reminded me that in order to catch souls, we can’t be afraid.
We have to be willing to be different.
This is a reminder I need often. God has called me differently and that doesn’t often look like following the path of others around me who seem to be having more “success.”
One other thing that I am often reminded of from him, is that when we are reaching for our phones, we are often trying to fill a void of loneliness. This is an ache within us for our Lord and for communion. That’s something I’d never considered before and it just makes sense!”
Quick takeaways from these conversations:
- Stop Drinking (or drink less!)
- Ask Jesus What He Wants You to Do (in front of the Blessed Sacrament)
- Write a book
- Consciously commit to live for souls
Which Catholic Podcast Episode Has Impacted You Most?
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