Advertise on podcast: The War on Mediocrity
Rating
4.9from
This podcast has
87 episodes
Explicit
No
Date created
2025/02/10
Latest episode
2026/09/30
Average duration
21 min.
Release period
7 days
Description
Our mission is to make missionary disciples. Through practical insights and spiritual guidance, we want to help you know the love of the Father and share it with others. Drawing from the Latin origin of mediocris—"halfway up the mountain"—we're here to inspire and equip you to climb higher, living life abundantly as God intended, not halfway.
Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from The War on Mediocrity podcast
The Virtue of Hope: More Than Just Optimism
2026/09/30
The supernatural virtue of hope is more than believing things will get better. Fr. Zarse and Carson Ackerman explore what Christian hope actually gives us when life is uncertain, suffering hits, or we find ourselves falling into the same sin again.
Repeating the Same Sin, Try This
2026/09/23
The guide to breaking free from habitual sin. Fr. Zarse and Carson Ackerman dig into why certain sins become so difficult to shake, how repeated choices begin to shape us, what we can learn from the patterns surrounding our falls, and what it actually takes to begin breaking free.
Celebrating Fr. Joseph's 1st Year at Sacred Heart
2026/09/16
One year in, Fr. Joseph looks back on the people and moments that have made Sacred Heart feel like home. From parish life and priesthood to learning to swim, Kansas City barbecue, and the World Cup, he shares some of his favorite memories from his first year.
The Odyssey & the Deadly Sin of Sloth
2026/09/09
What if one of the most active, driven men in The Odyssey is also guilty of sloth?
This week, Fr. Zarse and Carson use Odysseus as a surprising entry point into one of the most misunderstood deadly sins. What does sloth really look like? Can you be busy, productive, and constantly moving while still falling into it?
What to Do After Sin
2026/09/02
What happens in the moments after we fall into sin matters. Fr. Zarse & Carson Ackerman unpack how to turn back to God without getting trapped in shame or despair, how to trust His mercy, and why Confession is always the way home.
Should You Pray the Liturgy of the Hours?
2026/08/26
The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the Church, but why should you pray it? Fr. Zarse explains the beauty of praying the Hours, his commitment to them, why they matter, and what's changing next year.
The Problem With "I'll Just Go to Confession Later"
2026/08/19
"God will forgive me anyway." What happens when God's mercy becomes part of our justification for sin? Fr. Zarse & Carson explore presumption, the ways we justify sin, and what happens when we abuse the mercy of God.
Do All Fridays Have to Be Meatless?
2026/08/12
Fr. Zarse explores the purpose of fasting, how to approach it with the right disposition, and why fasting without prayer can quickly become little more than dieting. He also discusses different ways to fast and what the Church actually teaches about Friday penance and abstaining from meat.
The Prayer Every Catholic Should Do Daily
2026/08/05
God may be more present in your day than you realize. Fr. Zarse & Carson explain how the daily examen can reveal what you missed, expose the patterns holding you back, and help you follow God's will more closely.
The James Euston Experience pt. 2
2026/07/29
James Euston is back to continue his story, sharing about leaving Franciscan with two years remaining, making the leap of faith to enter seminary, and his time in formation.
Every Saint Has This One Trait
2026/07/22
"If you want to be a saint, you have to be magnanamous." - Fr. Mike Schmitz
In this episode, Fr. Zarse and Carson unpack this often-overlooked virtue & why every saint seems to have it in common.
The Catholic Call to Greatness
2026/07/15
Fr. Zarse explains how striving for excellence in even the smallest tasks can help us grow in holiness, increase our virtue, and become who God created us to be
Why You Actually Need Leisure (Not Just Free Time)
2026/07/08
We often think free time is the same as rest, but it isn't. In this episode, we explore why we actually need leisure as a rest of the soul ordered toward love and worship, not just distraction or recovery from work.
Fr. Zarse & Fr. Joseph Go to the World Cup
2026/07/01
Fr. Zarse and Fr. Joseph share their experience at the World Cup, a trip they were gifted that turned into a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Fr. Joseph talks about the opportunity and conversations around possibly meeting the Ghana national team and the president of Ghana football, as well as Ghana coming to Kansas City!
The James Euston Experience
2026/06/24
*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:15aecfa5-c0d1-477e-a0f0-b2a578ccf6cd-13" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:15aecfa5-c0d1-477e-a0f0-b2a578ccf6cd-13" data-testid= "conversation-turn-28" data-turn="assistant"> James Euston shares his story of bold leaps of faith, his reversion, his call to seminary, and time in Europe that shaped his discernment and vocation
Podcast reviews
Read The War on Mediocrity podcast reviews
Swordsintoplowshares 2025/09/19
War As Metaphor For The Teachings of Jesus
Using war as a metaphor for spiritual improvement doesn’t match the teachings of Jesus, but it does seem consistent with the history of the religious ...
The_Tech_Nerd 2025/03/21
Perfect For Getting Closer To God Outside Of Church
This podcast has helped me a lot at getting closer to god even when I’m outside of church. I can listen to it in the car or while I’m getting housewor...
Dekbez 2025/02/27
Just what is needed
Incredibly grateful Fr Zarse, with his contagious passion and Char, with her compelling story and lived experience, are able to utilize this forum to ...