For many of us, belief isn’t always easy. Life throws curveballs. Promises don’t pan out the way we thought they would. Secularism raises doubts in our minds. It’s hard to reconcile the joy we sing about this time of year with the struggles we face in our day-to-day lives. But belief doesn’t always start with clarity. Sometimes, it starts in the messiness of life, when everything feels out of alignment. That’s where Christ finds us. That’s the story of Christmas.

And that’s where this episode begins—by looking at faith not as a perfect, clean answer, but as a journey. A journey that’s deeply personal, sometimes hard, but always transformative. Today, I’m sitting down with Dr. Tom Neal, to discuss the origin story of his faith life. Tom is a brilliant mind, a loving soul, someone who has dedicated his life to teaching the gospel, but like all of us, has had a journey. Tom’s story—from questioning faith to experiencing a profound, life-changing encounter with Christ—reminds us that joy and belief can exist, even in the hardest moments.

This is a vulnerable and candid episode about how we encounter Christ and why we still believe amidst hardship. So, sit back and let this story unfold. Because as we reflect on this Advent season, this isn’t just about belief in theory—it’s about what happens when belief meets real life.

As always, please leave questions in the comments.

Full quote from Fr Carlo Carretto: https://nealobstat.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/the-church-broken-so-the-light-can-enter-in/

Chapters

00:00:00 Introduction

00:06:08 Tom's Upbringing and Family Life

00:15:53 Tom's Miraculous Encounter with Christ

00:22:03 The Aftermath and a Newfound Faith

00:31:07 Choosing Catholicism

00:38:51 Exploring Other Religions Through a Catholic Lens

00:49:45 Maintaining Belief Amidst Hardship

00:54:05 The Importance of Prayer

00:57:56 Am I a Bad Catholic?

01:02:04 Mario's Journey of Faith

01:13:05 The Intelligibility of the Catholic Faith

01:22:57 Tertullian's Paradox

01:27:33 Fr Carlo Carretto Quote on the Mystery of the Catholic Church

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See the links below to offer financial assistance:

Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Charities Hurricane Helen Donations Page:

https://giving.classy.org/campaign/624511/donate

Diocese of St. Petersburg Hurricane Relief Fund:

https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration/acp5f44220f014e0/user/guest

To catch up on previous audio-only episodes click on the links below:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/always-hope/id1437447070

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1EfQGHAQLHkQcmHeWjlCJF?si=6e6199090a0b4f0c

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The content of Always Hope is for purely educational reasons and is not meant as a substitute for proper diagnosis and/or professional counseling. If you need psychological or counseling services, please contact a trusted therapist for assistance.

Today, I reflect on the greatest Christmas movie of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life and what it teaches us about hope, healing, and finding meaning in life’s challenges. George Bailey’s story is all of us—navigating dreams, disappointments, and the tension between personal desires and the needs of others. It’s a story of sacrifice, resilience, and ultimately, grace showing up in the most unexpected ways, like misfit second class angels.

This is the second part of my Advent series on Hope and Healing, last week we talked about acceptance (please check out that episode). This week focuses on the surprising ways God comes to us, which is the central reflection of Advent – the miracle of the incarnation and the reminder that God shocked us all as a baby in the manger.

So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s reflect together on the gift of Advent, the power of acceptance, and the surprising ways divine providence manifests in our lives.

If you have any questions about this show or topic, please leave them in the comments.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Who is George Bailey?

04:44 The Burden of Responsibility and Choice

10:18 Don't Let Pain Turn You into a Villain

16:15 God is Listening

20:11 Final Encouragement

Not sure how to start a conversation with a someone you find attractive? Download my free Dating Toolkit at www.drmariosacasa.com/dating-toolkit

See the links below to offer financial assistance:

Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Charities Hurricane Helen Donations Page:

https://giving.classy.org/campaign/624511/donate

Diocese of St. Petersburg Hurricane Relief Fund:

https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration/acp5f44220f014e0/user/guest

To catch up on previous audio-only episodes click on the links below:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/always-hope/id1437447070

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1EfQGHAQLHkQcmHeWjlCJF?si=6e6199090a0b4f0c

Follow me on the socials:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa

Full Courses:

Dating Well: www.drmariosacasa/datingwell

Overcoming Stress and Anxiety: www.goodcatholic.com/product/overcoming-stress-and-anxiety/

The content of Always Hope is for purely educational reasons and is not meant as a substitute for proper diagnosis and/or professional counseling. If you need psychological or counseling services, please contact a trusted therapist for assistance.

Well, here we are. Advent. And today’s episode is the beginning of a four-part series on Advent, that will teach how to make this season into one of healing and hope. And we begin our reflections by unpacking the term acceptance. As we enter into Advent, I want to ask: are you struggling with accepting the year that has been? Have things not worked out the way you wanted, and are a little unsure how to surrender it to God?

If so, I’m happy you found this episode. Joining me on the podcast, to help unpack acceptance is Steven Hryniewicz, a skilled practitioner in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT.

Steven and I talk about how ACT encourages us to drop the struggle with difficult thoughts and emotions, giving us the freedom to focus on what truly matters. We examine how ACT can help us embrace psychological flexibility and align our actions with our values. We also dive into how Advent, as a season of both light and darkness, beginnings and ends, mirrors the therapeutic journey of finding meaning and grace in all parts of life—even the painful ones. Whether it’s managing anxiety, processing grief, or finding happiness, this episode offers practical insights and a fresh perspective for the season.

If you’re ready to embrace this Advent with a renewed sense of acceptance, hope, and purpose, then this conversation is for you. Let’s go!

If you have any questions about this show or topic, please leave them in the comments.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction to ACT and Advent

00:04:10 What Is ACT?

00:09:50 Redefining Acceptance

00:14:15 Psychological Flexibility in Life and Faith

00:20:45 Solution to Anxiety 00:24:36 Anxiety and the Attachment Response

00:32:38 Uncovering Underlying Emotions

00:39:35 Exploring Pain and Values

00:44:10 Accepting Loneliness

00:50:29 Dropping Anchor Meditation

01:01:46 Final Thoughts and Reflections

Steven's practice: https://paxtherapysolutions.com

Not sure how to start a conversation with a someone you find attractive? Download my free Dating Toolkit at www.drmariosacasa.com/dating-toolkit

See the links below to offer financial assistance:

Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Charities Hurricane Helen Donations Page:

https://giving.classy.org/campaign/624511/donate

Diocese of St. Petersburg Hurricane Relief Fund:

https://www.givecentral.org/appeals-form-registration/acp5f44220f014e0/user/guest

To catch up on previous audio-only episodes click on the links below:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/always-hope/id1437447070

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1EfQGHAQLHkQcmHeWjlCJF?si=6e6199090a0b4f0c

Follow me on the socials:

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa

Full Courses:

Dating Well: www.drmariosacasa/datingwell

Overcoming Stress and Anxiety: www.goodcatholic.com/product/overcoming-stress-and-anxiety/

The content of Always Hope is for purely educational reasons and is not meant as a substitute for proper diagnosis and/or professional counseling. If you need psychological or counseling services, please contact a trusted therapist for assistance.