The Catholic Sportsman Show Podcast

Anthony Isacco, PhD is program director, professor, and head of clinical research in the new MS in clinical psychology program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He is a licensed psychologist and is the principal of Puritan Psychological Services, a small private practice focused on helping clergy, seminarians, and women religious live healthy, holy, and happy lives in their vocations. Dr. A...

The Most Reverend John O. Barres, STD, JCL is the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island, NY). Previously, he served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown (PA) from 2009 to 2016. He is a graduate of Phillips Academy (Andover), Princeton University and the New York University Graduate School of Business and holds advanced theological degrees from the Catholic University of...

Johnny Rodriguez is our guest on this episode. He played many types of sports throughout his life and eventually gravitated to lacrosse (a sport that does not get much attention in the USA). He played the sport from before high school through college and played professionally for 7.5 years. Today, Johnny is a lacrosse coach at Mater Dei, a Catholic high school in Santa Ana, CA. He is married and i...

Our guest on this episode is Fr. Ben Keller, OP (Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominican Order). He and the Dominican Friars are chaplains to the Indiana Hoosiers Football team who won the 2026 College Football playoff and produced this year’s Heisman Trophy winner, Fernando Mendoza. Fr. Ben’s episode answers the following questions: How do faith and sports intersect in Fr. Ben’s life?...

Our guest on this episode is Bryan Richardson. He is married and has three grown boys, a granddaughter and a grandson. Bryan served our country in the Navy and the Naval Reserves. Bryan’s episode provides answers to these questions: What did Bryan’s high school football coach encourage as a team? How did Bryan's faith intersect with sports? How did Bryan convert to the Catholic Church? Who was the...

Lauri Hauser is our guest on this episode. She is a wife and the mother of two grown boys and was also a high school teacher. Twenty years ago, Lauri and her family started a family chant about God. Little did Lauri know, God would turn that family chant into a burgeoning ministry for His glory. In this episode you will find the answers to the following questions: ·       What does IC2KG mean and...

Chris Vander Woude is one of seven sons of Tom Vander Woude and is our guest on this episode. Tom died saving his son, Joseph, who fell in a septic tank on the family farm. Family, friends, and the Diocese of Arlington have started the process that, they hope and pray, will lead to Tom’s eventual canonization as a saint in the Catholic Church. In this episode you will find answers to the following...

Fr. Matthew Hincks is a priest with the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross in the diocese of Steubenville, Ohio and is our guest on this episode. One of the ministries of the Canons Regular is Opus Angelorum or Work of the Angels, which is the topic of our discussion with Fr. Matthew. In particular, Father talks about our guardian angels and sports. In this episode you will find answers to...

Father Dave Pivonka, TOR, is the president of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and is our guest on this episode. Fr. Dave grew up in a devoted Catholic family and he and his siblings were very involved in various types of sports. Fr. Dave liked the competitive nature of sports, but most appreciated the relationships that are prevalent in team sports. Looking back, he realizes how the le...

Rachael Popcak Isaac developed the Success and Performance Coaching Program and is our guest on this episode. Rachael grew up as a competitive figure skater and dancer, so she knows the love of competition. She has also experienced the intense pressure, anxiety, and stress inherent in sports or any high-pressure endeavor and this is the part of competition she did not like. Early in Rachael’s care...

Raquel Rose is the founder of the Little Rose Shop and is our guest on this episode. In addition to running her own business, Raquel is a wife and the mother of one girl and three boys. Growing up, she liked all sports, especially basketball. She tried to make the basketball team in college, even as a walk-on, but didn’t make it. Raquel and her friend tried out for the rugby team and made it. She...

Garrett Bernardo is our guest on this episode. He is the CEO of NOVUS (pronounced Novice), a purpose driven athletic clothing apparel company. Garrett talks about his early life being raised in a devout Catholic home. He recalls sharing a bedroom with his brother where his mom put a football poster in their room with the headline “Never, Never Quit with the bible verse: “Blessed are those who pers...

Our guest on this episode is Joey Pontarelli who is the founder and president of Restored, a ministry that helps teens and young adults who come from divorced or dysfunctional families heal and build virtue so they can avoid repeating that cycle and build a better life. Joey holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Franciscan University of Steubenville and an MBA from Benedictine College. Joey re...

Josh Brooks is a seminarian in the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is our guest on this episode. Throughout his life, Josh has had a huge passion for basketball. He tried out for his high school team but didn’t make it, God had other plans for Josh. He was raised in the Baptist faith, and his parents sent him to Catholic school. While in a relationship with his girlfriend, Josh felt a cal...

Chase Crouse is the CEO and founder of Hypuro Fit and is our guest on this episode. Hypuro Fit is a Catholic approach to fitness or stated another way, it’s fitness with a holy purpose. Chase explains the philosophy of Hypuro Fit is not just to work out to achieve a ripped body, although strength and nutrition are a great by-product. The philosophy of Hypuro Fit is inspired by St. Pope John Paul I...

Scott Carter is our guest on this episode. He is the coordinator of the office for the Beatification of Venerable Fr. Emil Kapaun. Fr. Kapaun is one of the newest deceased persons to be declared Venerable by the late Pope Francis in February 2025, which is a step closer to being declared a saint in the Catholic Church. Fr. Kapaun is best known for his faith-filled and heroic participation in the K...

The legendary race car driver Mario Andretti is our guest on this episode. He spoke movingly of his late wife, Dee Ann, whose unwavering support was a constant throughout his illustrious career. Mario has 3 children and 7 grandchildren. During Mario’s accomplished career he won many races and championships in various forms of auto racing. Mario talks about how he and his twin brother formed a love...

Rich Gannon is our guest on this episode. He is a devoted husband and father. Rich’s career includes playing for the NFL as a quarterback for 17 seasons, most notably for the Oakland Raiders. He led the Raiders to the Superbowl for the 2002 season. Rich went to the Pro-Bowl four times and was the Most Valuable Player in 2002. Following his playing days, Rich moved to the booth and excelled as a br...

Michael McGlinn is our guest on this episode. He is a husband and father, film maker, recording artist, founder of Sistine Films and the Adore Him Daily website. Michael played football at Notre Dame under the legendary coach Lou Holtz, although a life of football was not ultimately Michael’s calling. While at Notre Dame he developed an interior life, a devotion to the Rosary, and a deep feeling o...

Christopher McLaughlin joins us from Glasgow, Scotland and is one of the people heading up the Cause for Tommy Burns, hoping that Tommy will eventually be declared a saint in the Catholic Church. Christopher is our guest on this episode and shares his experiences and knowledge about the quest for Tommy’s sainthood that many are praying for. Tommy was a professional soccer player, which in Scotland...

Amayrani Higueldo actively participated in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage last year and is our guest in this episode. This event was a precursor to the National Eucharistic Congress that was held in Indianapolis on July 20 – 21, 2024. The Pilgrimage consisted of four routes, East, West, North, and South which made the shape of a cross over America. The four groups met in Indianapolis for the...

Kevin Becker played soccer in college and is our guest on this episode. Kevin was in his senior year of college at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania when he fell off a roof. He was found on the ground by friends, his head fractured, and his body broken. Kevin was in a coma and his devout parents rushed to be by his side. They were told by his doctors to brace for the worst. His family co...

Fr. Tom Baker is our guest on this episode. He has been a Catholic priest for over 35 years and has participated in approximately 130 triathlons since his ordination. Fr. Tom explains what an Ironman competition is and what it involves. Fr. Tom talks about how he initially got involved in triathlete training and Ironman competitions. He enthusiastically talks about his life as an athlete. As a Cat...

Curt Tomasevicz is a former Olympic bobsledder and our guest on this episode. He participated in several Winter Olympic games encompassing about ten years and discusses his experiences and lessons learned. Curt is quite humble about the Olympic medals he’s accumulated. Prior to his Olympic days, Curt played football at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Currently he is a professor of Biolog...

Church on Wheels Chris Massaro is the Director of Mission Advancement for the Biking for Babies organization and our guest on this episode. Chris talks about how his love for sports began at a young age and continued into his college years. His relationship with our Lord grew in college at Vanderbilt University and later at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. Chris’s time at the seminary shaped his und...