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Is the job you have today the one God is calling you to? In Part 2 of this two-part series, Joe Stopulos and Sam Halligan of FORGE go beyond the question of why we work. They look at how a man’s daily work can become prayer, give him purpose, and become a mission field for evangelization. Joe notes up front that this is a philosophical conversation, not official Church teaching. In this episode: The unexamined life: Joe opens with Socrates and asks whether you are using your God-given talents in the job you have now.John Adams and the generations: In a letter to Abigail, Adams wrote that he studied politics and war so his grandchildren could study painting and poetry. Joe asks what happens when a society, or an AI-driven economy, loses the habit of real work.The crisis of purposelessness: Sam explains how closely a man’s sense of purpose is tied to making a difference. When men feel replaceable, they lose their footing. Fatherhood, lived as a vocation, gives a man a reason to get up every morning.Can you retire at 40? Not working a traditional job isn’t wrong, but stewardship is. Spending every day at the country club is a wasted life, and your kids are watching. Sam also explains why a lottery jackpot often leaves people with no aim.Even spreadsheets can be worship: Following St. Paul (Romans 12:1), any task, even a dull one, can be offered to God as spiritual worship.Ora et labora: The Benedictine rhythm of prayer and work puts prayer first. Anchor your day in prayer, then let your work and your prayer feed each other.Praying always at work: Set reminders on your phone or watch through the day. Pray the Angelus at noon (under three minutes) and the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m. (under ten minutes).St. Josemaría Escrivá and Opus Dei: Lay work is a real path to holiness. You may be the only Catholic some of your coworkers ever meet.Your workplace is your mission field: Men are stirred by movies like Braveheart, but modern work can feel like a grind until Friday. What would change if you saw your office as a mission? Be the light at work, give exceptional service, and leave people better off than you found them.Joe’s closing reflection: Pray first and then work. See your vocation as a path to holiness and your workplace as your mission field. Use a men’s group to sharpen the sword.Missed Part 1? Go back to last week’s episode on the theology of work, Genesis, and whether you need to enjoy your job. Join a FORGE small group and explore the Men and Work course (click the Courses tab):https://myforge.org/ Thank you to our sponsors:Construction Professionals: https://cpcustomhomes.com/Iowa Catholic Radio: https://iowacatholicradio.com/ Listen to Man Up live on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network and find more at IowaCatholicRadio.com. #ManUp #CatholicMen #CatholicPodcast #FaithAndWork #OraEtLabora #Evangelization #WorkplaceMinistry #Purpose #Vocation #OpusDei #StJosemaria #Benedictine #CatholicFather #Fatherhood #MensMinistry #ForgeMen #DesMoines #Iowa #IowaCatholicRadio #Catholic Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What is the purpose of work? Am I in the right career? Am I called to this job? Most men wrestle with these questions throughout their careers. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Joe Stopulos sits down with Sam Halligan of FORGE, fresh off FORGE’s new course on men and work, for a candid conversation about why we work and how faith shapes the way we approach our jobs. In this episode: Meet Sam Halligan: A Des Moines native (St. Pius X Parish in Urbandale, Dowling Catholic, Benedictine College) who spent a decade as a missionary with Damascus in Ohio and Minnesota before coming home to Iowa and joining FORGE.Work is not a result of the Fall: God commissioned Adam to till and keep the garden before original sin. Work carries real dignity by design; the “sweat of your brow” came later.Do you have to enjoy your job? Providing for your family is a higher good than loving what you do. Ideally the two go together, and St. Irenaeus’ “the glory of God is man fully alive” points toward using your God-given talents well.There is no perfect job: Even dream careers like pro golfer, rock star, or CEO come with grinding pressure. Comparison is a trap, much like Instagram.Virtue lives in the middle: Avoid both the overworker who neglects his family and the man who never gets in the arena. Avoid both the job-hopper and the man stuck on autopilot.Take an inventory: Pause, pray, and ask whether you are stewarding your talents or hiding them under a bushel basket.Finding purpose in modern work: Since the Industrial Revolution, workers have moved further from the people they serve. Joe and Sam discuss meaning in a 100,000-person company, the role of AI, and the parable of three men building the same wall, one of whom knows he’s building a house for God.St. Paul on idleness: 2 Thessalonians makes clear we are all called to work, including retirees.Why men’s groups matter: A small group of faithful Catholic men who know you well is a strong sounding board for career and vocation decisions.Next week in Part 2: evangelization in the workplace and much more with Sam Halligan. Join a FORGE small group and explore FORGE courses:https://myforge.org/ Thank you to our sponsors:Construction Professionals: https://cpcustomhomes.com/Iowa Catholic Radio: https://iowacatholicradio.com/ Listen to Man Up live on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network and find more at IowaCatholicRadio.com. #ManUp #CatholicMen #CatholicPodcast #FaithAndWork #TheologyOfWork #Vocation #CatholicFather #Fatherhood #MensMinistry #ForgeMen #CatholicLife #DesMoines #Iowa #IowaCatholicRadio #Purpose #Career #Genesis #Catholic Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever wanted to hear from someone who helped get a saint named Doctor of the Church? Dr. Bud Marr was there in Rome for both of Newman’s big moments, and in this episode he and Joe dig into why this 19th-century English convert matters so much for Catholic men today. In this episode: Bud’s road to Newman. In 2006, while studying at Duke Divinity School and drifting toward Anglicanism, Bud found Newman through an essay by Rusty Reno, now editor of First Things. Two lines changed everything: “To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant” and “Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt.”Who was John Henry Newman? He lived from 1801 to 1890, was a famous Anglican minister and Oxford fellow, and became Catholic at about age 45. It’s also why your college Catholic center is likely called the Newman Center.Red vs. white martyrdom. Newman’s conversion cost him his career, his friends, and his standing in English society. To be English was to be Anglican.The development of doctrine. In An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, Newman explains how Church teaching grows organically without changing its substance, an idea that later informed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and Vatican II.Newman’s mottos for life: Cor ad cor loquitur (“Heart speaks to heart”) and “Holiness before peace.”Where to start reading Newman: Don’t start with the Grammar of Assent. Begin with his sermons, especially the eight volumes of Parochial and Plain Sermons, all free online. Next, try A Letter to the Duke of Norfolk, Newman’s balanced take on conscience and papal authority after Vatican I.Behind the scenes of the Doctor of the Church cause. As director of the National Institute for Newman Studies in Pittsburgh (hired in 2017), Bud worked with the Brompton Oratory in London. The Institute digitized Newman’s huge body of writing (8 volumes of sermons, 32 volumes of letters, and more) and gathered 20 scholars to write the positio sent to the Vatican.Rome, twice. Bud was there for Newman’s canonization under Pope Francis in October 2019 and for his declaration as Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo on All Saints Day 2025. At the second ceremony, Newman was named co-patron of Catholic education with Saint Thomas Aquinas.Joe’s rosary challenge update. After the rosary episode with Keith Nester, Joe’s one-week daily rosary challenge has grown to nearly four weeks. If you haven’t started yet, start now.Resources mentioned: Read Newman’s sermons free online at Newman Reader: https://www.newmanreader.org/National Institute for Newman Studies: https://www.newmanstudies.org/Seeking God with Saint John Henry Newman by Ryan J. Marr, published by Our Sunday Visitor. It’s written for a general audience.To Be Perfect Is to Have Changed Often by Ryan J. Marr, Bud’s dissertation on how Newman’s understanding of the Church developed.Bishop Robert Barron’s Pivotal Players series features Newman.Thank you to our sponsors: Construction Professionals: https://www.cpcustomhomes.com/Iowa Catholic Radio: https://www.iowacatholicradio.com/Listen to Man Up with Joe Stopulos on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network and at IowaCatholicRadio.com. #ManUp #CatholicMen #JohnHenryNewman #SaintJohnHenryNewman #DoctorOfTheChurch #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicConversion #CatholicFaith #Rosary #Iowa #CatholicEducation  Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever wanted a deeper devotion to the Rosary but struggled to make it part of your daily routine? Joe Stopulos welcomes back Keith Nester of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, former Protestant pastor, Catholic convert, and founder of the Rosary Crew, to talk about how to pray the Rosary every day and truly enter into its mysteries. In this episode: Keith's conversion to the Catholic Church and why the Rosary was initially a hang-up for himHow Fr. Donald Calloway's book Champions of the Rosary inspired Keith to see the Rosary as a spiritual weaponThe story of how one March 2020 livestream turned into six and a half years of praying the Rosary daily with thousands onlineWhy the Rosary is "a prayer, not a formula," and why it still counts even when you get distractedJoe's "lazy river" analogy: letting the prayer of the Church carry youA moving encounter at a truck stop on I-80 in Gretna, Nebraska, with a Rosary Crew member facing terminal cancerTestimonies of people breaking free from habitual sin and finding their way into the Church through the RosaryKeith's practical steps for starting a daily Rosary habit: learn the mechanics, pick a time (earlier in the day is better), find a quiet place, meditate on the mysteries, and don't get discouragedResources Mentioned Unpacking the Mysteries of the Rosary by Keith Nester, a Scripture-based guide to each mystery of the Rosary, available on Amazon and at Keith's website:down2earthministry.orgChampions of the Rosary by Fr. Donald Calloway, MICPray With the Rosary CrewSearch "Rosary Crew with Keith Nester" on YouTube or Facebook. Monday–Friday: 5:00 PM CentralSaturdays: usually 8:00 AM CentralSundays: usually between 9:30 and 10:30 AM Central (varies with Mass times)Missed the live? Every Rosary is available as a replay on YouTube.Take the ChallengeJoe is committing to pray the Rosary every day for the next seven days. Join him, and let us know how it goes! Listen to more Man Up and all of our programs at IowaCatholicRadio.com: IowaCatholicRadio.com #Rosary #DailyRosary #CatholicMen #KeithNester #RosaryCrew #CatholicConvert #HolyRosary #MysteriesOfTheRosary #CatholicPrayer #ManUp #IowaCatholicRadio #Catholic #Faith #PrayTheRosary Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if a school existed for one reason: to make saints? On this episode of Man Up, Joe Stopulos sits down in studio with Bryan Gonzalez — founding family, board member, and tutor at St. Thomas Classical Academy — for an honest conversation about Catholic classical education, homeschooling, and what it takes for fathers to raise children for heaven. In this episode: What St. Thomas Classical Academy actually is. A hybrid model: families homeschool Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, then gather together Tuesday and Thursday. Parents stay the primary educators, but the curriculum is already selected — removing what Bryan calls the thorn in the side of homeschooling.The mission statement, and the two pillars that set STCA apart: a deep commitment to the Catholic tradition, and education done the classical way — encountering truth, goodness, and beauty.Six students to 120. The academy launched in 2017 and now serves roughly 50 families, plus another 30–40 children through Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It rents space at Sts. John and Paul Parish in Altoona.Zero dollars. Bryan explains why STCA receives no funding from the state or the diocese, why the community declined ESA dollars, and what that independence protects.Why the priests keep showing up. Rotating priests drive from across the diocese to offer Mass — some on their day off — because 120 kids serving, reading, and singing at Mass fills them up.Ephesians 6:4 for fathers: bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord — and what that looks like practically for Catholic dads and male mentors.Bishop James Conley's story. He entered the University of Kansas as a self-described hippie agnostic, encountered John Senior's Integrated Humanities Program in the 1970s, and became Catholic his senior year. Joe explains why Conley was the one speaker he wanted for this event.Visit the school: Mass is at 8:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Sts. John and Paul Parish in Altoona. Come to Mass, and Bryan is happy to give a tour afterward. THE GALA — Tuesday, October 205:30–8:30 p.m. | The Tea Room, downtown Des MoinesKeynote: Bishop James Conley, Diocese of LincolnAlso featuring testimony from Fr. Mark McGeary This is a ticketed event and tickets are selling fast — purchase in advance. Individual tickets and sponsor tables are available. Get tickets, watch the 90-second school video, or request a tour at the contact page: https://www.stthomasclassical.org/ New: Official Man Up whiskey glasses are now available in the Iowa Catholic Radio store, along with other ICR merchandise: https://iowacatholicradio.com/store/ Listen to Man Up and stream Iowa Catholic Radio anytime at https://iowacatholicradio.com/ If this episode helped you, please rate and review Man Up on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it helps more men find the show. #CatholicEducation #ClassicalEducation #CatholicHomeschool #ManUp #CatholicMen #CatholicDads #BishopConley #Homeschooling #CatholicPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #DesMoines #CatholicFaith #Fatherhood #TruthGoodnessBeauty #JohnSenior Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode is part two of a special crossover conversation between Joe Stopulos and Bud Marr, recorded for Bud's show The Uncommon Good in the weeks after the passing of Joe's father, Mike Stopulos. If you missed part one, it's worth going back to catch the full arc of this reflection on grief, service, and eternity. Highlights from this episode: Joe and Bud unpack Bishop Robert Barron's phrase "your life is not about you" and why it's become a touchstone for how they each think about their days Reflections on three very different funerals — a diocesan priest, a Catholic bookstore owner, and Joe's own father — and what their outpourings of love reveal about a life spent in service to others The witness of Pier Giorgio Frassati and Saint John Henry Newman as models of holiness that don't require fame or resources to imitate A candid conversation about balancing provision for a family with genuine presence — including when it might mean taking a pay cut to be home more Bud's reflection on intentionality with his own children as time with them narrows year by year A discussion of healthspan and physical stewardship, citing Peter Attia's Outlive, and the example of a priest still driving himself to say Mass at 93 A closing word Bud offers his own children about what a life well lived actually requires Whether you're walking through grief, wrestling with the tension between work and family, or looking for saints to emulate as a father, this conversation offers grounded wisdom for living with eternity in view. #ManUpPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicFatherhood #LifeWellLived #YourLifeIsNotAboutYou #CatholicMensMinistry #CatholicPodcast #FaithAndFatherhood #HeroicVirtue #GriefAndFaith #DavenportIowa #QuadCities Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special crossover episode, Man Up host Joe Stopulos trades the mic for the guest chair, joining Dr. Bud Marr of The Uncommon Good for a deeply personal conversation about what it means to live — and die — well as a Catholic man. Recorded this past June, just weeks after the sudden passing of Joe's father, Mike Stopulos, the discussion centers on the "obituary virtues" that matter most: faith, service, and family. Highlights from this episode: Joe's father received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, an apostolic blessing, and Holy Communion in his final hours — surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, and brothers praying the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet at his bedside. Why fourteen weeks of terminal cancer became, in Joe's words, a blessing — offering time for last conversations a sudden death never would have allowed. A candid look at the Church's teaching against hastening death, and how that teaching shaped the family's experience of Joe's father's final months. The biggest lesson Joe's father left behind: a life of joyful, selfless service — "he made everyone feel like his best friend." How every Catholic father, regardless of profession, is called to be "salt and light," radiating the joy of the Gospel in ordinary daily life. A nod to Tim Carney's book Family Unfriendly and the danger of comparing real family life to curated "Instagram motherhood." This is part one of a two-part conversation — part two continues next week on Man Up. This episode of Man Up is brought to you by: Construction Professionals — CPCustomHomes.com Iowa Catholic Radio — IowaCatholicRadio.com #ManUpPodcast #CatholicFatherhood #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicMen #LifeWellLived #TheUncommonGood #CatholicFaith #CatholicGrief #EndOfLifeCare #CatholicDad #DavenportIowa #QuadCities Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this solo teaching episode, Joe Stopulos tackles a topic many Catholic men avoid discussing openly: money. Drawing on two books by finance writer Morgan Housel — The Psychology of Money (2020) and The Art of Spending Money (2025) — Joe walks through the core lessons of both and reframes them through a Catholic lens of stewardship, humility, and contentment. Highlights from this episode: Why doing well with money is about behavior, not intelligence — and how habits shape financial peace The "benchwarmer on a Major League team" analogy that reframes comparison and contentment Why real wealth is what you don't spend, not what you show How money's highest dividend is control over your time — spending it on the people you love Why finances are one of the top three pillars of a healthy marriage, and how Joe addresses this in the marriage prep he leads A nod to Dave Ramsey's budgeting framework — where Joe agrees, and where he doesn't The story of Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, and the billionaire who had everything except "enough" The quiet millionaire janitor who left $8 million to charity — and what it says about humility A closing quote from St. John Chrysostom on wealth, stewardship, and caring for the poor This episode is a call for Catholic men to examine their relationship with money — not as an end in itself, but as a tool for building a life centered on faith, family, and generosity. This episode is brought to you by: Construction Professionals — CPCustomHomes.com https://cpcustomhomes.com/ #CatholicMen #ManUpPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicFatherhood #CatholicDadLife #CatholicStewardship #FaithAndFinance #PsychologyOfMoney #MorganHousel #CatholicMarriage #CatholicPodcast #DesMoinesIowa #IowaCatholic #HeroicVirtue Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tim Carney is back for round two, and this conversation goes even deeper into his book Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be. Tim is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he researches civil society, family, localism, religion in America, and economic policy. He's also a husband and father of six seven — and a recent speaker at the Forge Conference. Picking up where they left off last week, Joe and Tim work through the back half of the book chapter by chapter: Walkability & the "Cheaper by the Dozen" Reality Tim's hot take: "If you want fecundity in the sheets, you need walkability in the streets." Cities built around cars — not sidewalks and playgrounds — make raising kids exhausting. Tim also makes the case that hand-me-downs, shared bedrooms, and one-income households aren't sacrifices to dread but genuine advantages for kids learning to live outside themselves. It Takes a Village (Even If Hillary Said It First) The nuclear family is necessary but not sufficient. Grandparents, parishes, neighbors, and little leagues all play an irreplaceable role — and the decline of church attendance and community involvement is one of the biggest threats to family life today. Policy, Israel, and What Actually Moves the Needle Tim unpacks proposals like a "baby bonus" for new parents, and explains why Israel — not the wealthiest or most educated nation — has the highest birth rate among developed countries. His answer: culture and religion, not economics, are the real drivers. Screens, Social Media, and Protecting Your Kids A stark warning: unrestricted phone and social media access does more damage to a child's formation than anything imaginable a generation ago. Tim calls it what it is — an invasive species in the garden of your home. The Case for Stay-at-Home Moms Tim makes a data-backed, non-judgmental case for why society benefits when more moms can stay home — and why the "universal daycare" solution politicians push misses what many families actually want. Ending on Hope Tim closes with a powerful reframe: children are both a sign of hope and a cause of it. The more kids we have, the more hope we have — and the more hope we have, the more kids we're willing to welcome. 📖 Pick up Tim Carney's book, Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be, wherever books are sold. Catch up on Part 1 of this conversation on the Man Up podcast feed if you missed last week's episode. Man Up with Joe Stopulos is brought to you by: 🔨 Construction Professionals — CPCustomHomes.com 📻 Iowa Catholic Radio — IowaCatholicRadio.com #ManUpPodcast #IowaCatholicRadio #FamilyUnfriendly #TimCarney #CatholicDads #CatholicFamily #ProLife #LargeFamilies #CatholicMen #FaithAndFamily #StayAtHomeMom #ChildhoodFreedom #BirthRateCrisis #CatholicParenting #DesMoinesIowa #CatholicPodcast #HeroicVirtue #ForgeConference #AEI #WalkableCities   Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Joe Stopulos welcomes back author, journalist, and father of six Tim Carney for a two-part conversation on his latest book, Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be. Tim is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he researches civil society, family, localism, and religion in America, and a senior columnist at the Washington Examiner. He previously joined Joe to discuss his earlier book, Alienated America, and returns after a well-received talk at this year's Forge Conference. In Part 1, Joe and Tim cover: Why Tim wrote Family Unfriendly after realizing the biggest consequence of America's "loneliness crisis" is the decline in marriage and family formation The two biggest cultural forces working against families: an intensive, all-consuming parenting culture and an over-emphasis on individual autonomy Chapter One, "Have Lower Ambitions for Your Kids," and the "travel team trap" — why over-investing in one child's athletic future can fracture the whole family and warp a kid's sense of identity Research showing mothers of four or more children report lower stress than mothers of one to three, and why "lowering the bar" actually makes for better, more present parenting Chapter Two, "Leave Your Kids Alone," and the case for free-range parenting, including Tim's own stories of (temporarily) losing his kids in public The "criminalization of parenthood" — how fear and social media shaming have made ordinary, low-risk parenting decisions feel dangerous Why building stronger, more connected neighborhoods makes it easier and safer to give kids independence Parenting as a "cheat code to sanctity" and how raising children re-centers a family's life on others rather than self Tim Carney's book, Family Unfriendly, is available wherever books are sold. Learn more about Tim's work at the American Enterprise Institute: https://www.aei.org/research-products/book/family-unfriendly/ Don't miss Part 2 of this conversation, coming soon, as Joe and Tim work through the rest of the book's chapters. This episode of Man Up is brought to you by: Construction Professionals – CPCustomHomes.com: https://cpcustomhomes.com/ Iowa Catholic Radio – IowaCatholicRadio.com: https://iowacatholicradio.com/ #ManUpPodcast #CatholicFatherhood #FamilyUnfriendly #TimCarney #CatholicParenting #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicDads #FreeRangeParenting #OverparentingIsReal #CatholicFamily #FaithAndFatherhood #DesMoinesIowa #CatholicMen #HeroicVirtue #RaisingCatholicKids             Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Fr. Trevor Chicoine returns to Man Up for part two of this series on the liturgy, and Joe puts him through a round of rapid-fire questions every Catholic man has wondered about but rarely asks out loud. Topics covered in this episode include: Preparing for Mass — practical tips for getting your family out the door with less chaos, plus why even a few minutes of quiet before Mass changes everything Attire and reverence — Fr. Chicoine's take on dressing for Mass, modesty, and why "come as you are" is always point number one The moving of tabernacles — the real history behind the 1970 General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Pope St. John Paul II's 2000 revision, and why some parishes can move the tabernacle back to center while others can't Chalice veils, incense, and bells — the ancient symbolism behind each, and why "smells and bells" are making a comeback in modern parishes Living out Vatican II's vision — what the Council actually asked for, and simple ways parishioners can add beauty to their parish through music, flowers, altar linens, and more Recommended resources for going deeper into the liturgy, including Bishop Barron's "Mass" series and the book What Happens at Mass by Abbot Jeremy Driscoll A father's role — why dads who take the Mass seriously dramatically shape whether their kids stay in the faith This episode is brought to you by: Construction Professionals — CPCustomHomes.com Iowa Catholic Radio — IowaCatholicRadio.com #ManUp #CatholicMen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicLiturgy #DesMoinesCatholic #QuadCitiesCatholic #DavenportIowa #CatholicPodcast #HeroicVirtue #CatholicFaith #Eucharist #MassMatters #CatholicMasculinity #TabernacleTruths #BeautyOfTheLiturgy #VaticanII   Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why does the liturgy matter? In part one of this two-part series, Joe Stopulos welcomes Fr. Trevor Chicoine, the Diocese's Episcopal Vicar for Divine Worship, to the studio for a deep dive into the theology and practice of Catholic liturgy. Fr. Chicoine shares his own path from seminarian to liturgical scholar — including his licentiate studies in Rome — and explains why the Mass is the "supreme prayer of the Church." Joe and Fr. Chicoine cover practical, everyday questions every Catholic man has wondered about, including: The difference between genuflecting and bowing — and when to do each Why the altar becomes the center of focus once Mass begins The Church's teaching on sacred music, Gregorian chant, and the pipe organ Why beauty and reverence in worship draw souls to Christ Encouragement for the congregation to sing — even if you can't carry a tune Part two of this conversation continues next week on Man Up. This episode is brought to you by: Construction Professionals — CPCustomHomes.com Iowa Catholic Radio — IowaCatholicRadio.com #ManUp #CatholicMen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicLiturgy #DesMoinesCatholic #QuadCitiesCatholic #DavenportIowa #CatholicPodcast #HeroicVirtue #CatholicFaith #Eucharist #MassMatters #CatholicMasculinity #SacredMusic #GregorianChant Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Man Up, Joe Stopulos is joined again by his brothers Pete and Tim for part two of their tribute to their late father, Mike Stopulos. After last week's biographical look at Mike's life, this episode turns to the lessons: what did their dad actually do that made him the kind of man an entire community showed up to grieve? The brothers walk through it lesson by lesson: Be there — Mike coached freshman basketball at Assumption High School (earning the nickname "Papa Stop"), showed up for backyard football and homework, and made sure his kids never felt his absence even during years of financial strain he never mentioned. Take calculated risks — from proposing to their mother six months into dating, to launching side businesses, to investing in Airbnb properties with his sons during the pandemic, Mike modeled fearless but thoughtful risk-taking that paid off far beyond money. Order your life rightly — faith first, then family (wife before kids), then work, then friends. The brothers share how Mike's sacrificial love for their mother, especially through her health struggles, shaped how they lead their own households today. Pour out love on everyone — stories pour out about Mike's daily visits to a local Starbucks and grocery store, his habit of embracing a disfigured cart-pusher by name, and quietly slipping strangers at Walmart one hundred dollars with no explanation. Fear no one — from cracking jokes with hospital staff during his final weeks to evangelizing nurses about their faith, Mike lived out the Gospel call to approach every person without fear or judgment. A model Catholic death — the episode closes with the family's account of Mike's final hours: receiving anointing, an apostolic blessing, and communion, then passing peacefully as his six children prayed a rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet at his bedside. This episode is brought to you by Construction Professionals. Learn more at CPCustomHomes.com Man Up airs on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network. Listen to more at IowaCatholicRadio.com #ManUp #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicFatherhood #CatholicDad #Fatherhood #HeroicFatherhood #FaithAndFamily #CatholicMen #CatholicPodcast #DavenportIowa #QuadCities #CatholicFaith #StopulosFamily Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this first installment of a multi-part tribute series, Joe Stopulos sits down with his brothers Pete and Tim to remember their father, Mike Stopulos, who passed away recently and left an outsized mark on his family and community. The brothers trace Mike's story from the beginning: a free-range 1950s and 60s childhood in Davenport, Iowa, where kids rode a school bus ten miles out to the Davenport Country Club to golf unsupervised all day. They talk about his unlikely walk-on stint on the University of Iowa football team, and the famously fast romance with their mother — engaged just six months after they met while he was coaching her women's softball team. From there, the conversation moves into the pillars of Mike's life: raising six kids born between 1980 and 1990, an unwavering commitment to Catholic schooling, daily faith, never missing Sunday Mass or a holy day of obligation, and consistent family dinners despite a demanding career. The episode also covers his entrepreneurial path — from Lindsey Digital Prepress, to opening Bixby's Bagels and Malley's Pizza, to launching a second career in employee benefits consulting at age 49 alongside Andy Butler, a business he worked in until his final days. The episode closes with a glimpse of the overwhelming turnout at Mike's visitation and funeral — a line that ran hours past its scheduled end — as a testament to the life he lived. Part two of this tribute series continues next week, diving into the specific lessons in faith, work, and fatherhood that Mike passed down to his sons. This episode is brought to you by Construction Professionals. Learn more at https://www.cpcustomhomes.com/ Man Up airs on the Iowa Catholic Radio Network. Listen to more at https://www.iowacatholicradio.com #ManUp #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicFatherhood #CatholicDad #Fatherhood #HeroicFatherhood #FaithAndFamily #CatholicMen #CatholicPodcast #DavenportIowa #QuadCities #CatholicFaith #StopulosFamily   Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on Man Up, Joe Stopulos shares the second and final part of his Heroic Fatherhood conversation with his father, Mike Stopulos — an interview recorded a couple of years ago and aired now in his memory. Where Part 1 traced the men who shaped Mike (his own father, Jim "Papa Jim" Stopulos, and his father-in-law, Carl Liebscher), Part 2 turns to Mike's own fatherhood: raising six kids, leading a family through faith, and the long view that only grandchildren can give. If you missed the first half, go back and listen before diving in. Inside this episode: Why Mike and his wife, Mary Fran, decided she would step away from a thriving career at John Deere — where she worked as an actuary on a management-science track and out-earned him — to stay home with the kids, and the generational blessing that one hard decision created. The "blur" of early fatherhood, and Mike's advice to savor it: invest in experiences and memories over presents, because the time together is what kids carry for life. How parenting has to evolve with the culture — from Nintendo, MTV, and latchkey kids to Facebook — without ever abandoning the moral compass at its core. The "plenty of rope" and "big fence" philosophy: setting boundaries far enough out that kids can explore, stumble, and learn from failure, while never compromising on what protects their souls. The shift from parent to friend as children grow into adults — and why, in raising kids, "there are no mulligans." Becoming "Papa": loving grandchildren unconditionally, donuts and trips to Freddy's, and earning the kind of respect that puts a "what would Papa do?" voice on their shoulder. The faith that anchored it all — never missing Sunday Mass, daily Mass through Lent, and Mike's conviction that strong moral roots will draw kids back even when they stray. Joe closes with a personal reflection on his dad's example, the outpouring of love at his funeral, and the tribute episodes still to come. Man Up is dedicated to inspiring and helping men live lives of heroic virtue. Support for Man Up is provided by Construction Professionals. Learn more and start building at https://cpcustomhomes.com/ Listen, give, and learn more about the Iowa Catholic Radio Network at https://iowacatholicradio.com/ #ManUp #HeroicFatherhood #CatholicDads #Fatherhood #CatholicFatherhood #CatholicMen #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #FaithAndFamily #RaisingKids #CatholicFamily #Grandfather #CatholicRadio #Catholic Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKS You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website. If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio: Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & Devotions The Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.