Way of the Heart Podcast

Today, Jake and Brett welcome their last guest of Season 12, Simon Kyne, to the podcast. You may not recognize his name, but Simon is the 'friend' mentioned in many stories throughout our episodes. In fact, Way of the Heart would not be here without Simon, since he introduced Jake and Brett years ago. For more than two decades, Simon has walked with Brett and Jake individually as a foxhole friend,...

In this episode, Jake and Brett sit down with Fr. John Riccardo, a priest from the Archdiocese of Detroit who leads a ministry called Acts 29 which helps ordained and lay leaders in this apostolic age. Fr. Riccardo is passionate about preaching the Gospel, responding to the crisis of fatherhood in the priesthood, and being authentically human. Pull up a chair and get comfortable because Fr. Riccar...

Employing true critical thinking in our current cultural environment requires no small measure of courage. Our guest today, Fr. Raymond de Souza, is no stranger to making his thoughts known in the public sphere as one of the longest standing columnists for the National Post (among countless other titles and accolades). Father de Souza shares with Jake and Brett his proudest commentaries published...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a Navy SEAL? How do SEALs stay the course under the most brutal circumstances and what can we learn from them as men living in our own arenas? In this episode, Jake and Brett sit down with Sam Blair, a trained and experienced SEAL who shares the importance of being called to your work, how excellence comes down to training, and why knowing your why is th...

Do you feel disillusioned by the state of the world? Are you feeling lukewarm in your faith? Jake and Brett talk to Peter Herbeck of Renewal Ministries about judgment, the grinding down of truth, redemption and hope. Peter shares pieces of his own story and how he is unafraid of dark places and hard things because of what Christ has done for him. Peter Herbeck is the Executive Vice President of Re...

Jake and Brett share their highs and lows of the summer, and introduce the theme for Season 12: Men in the Arena. Over the next few weeks, we'll hear from five men who are living 'in the arena,' including a Navy SEAL, a priest and columnist for a major publication, a ministry leader, a priest engaged in parish renewal, and a high-level business executive. Jake and Brett explain what made them choo...

In this final episode of Way of the Heart before a summer hiatus, Jake and Brett discuss the feelings that the summer evokes for them and what this says about the Father's heart.   Key Points   Brett recounts a hilarious story about a mistake at the hair salon The feelings that summer brings up for Jake Brett's experience of family and summer at his friend's cabin The Father wants us to enjoy and...

In a recent conversation, Jake had an image come to mind of planets revolving around the sun, except instead of planets they were people, and instead of the sun, Jesus was at the centre of everything. Jake and Brett spend the episode breaking open that analogy and putting into perspective why saying that 'you're not the centre of the universe' is an invitation to a rightly-ordered life rather than...

Jake and Brett have a rich conversation covering everything from the principle of asceticism, to how true self-actualization is found in Christ, to what it means for us to be living in what George Weigel describes as the 'Age of Witness'. The hosts challenge us to consider what captures our attention and time, and reveal how giving up good things to pursue something greater can offer us freedom an...

Jake and Brett look back at one hundred episodes of the Way of the Heart by sharing favourite episodes, what they wish they'd talked about more, and how they've watched each other grow over the past four years. The show wraps up with some unscripted feedback as the men offer each other words of encouragement and observations about potential blindspots. As always, the show is a window into the brot...

If you've ever listened to the podcast and wondered, "What on earth do they mean by 'orphan mentality' or 'foxhole friends'?" then this episode is for you. Jake and Brett zoom out to explain some of the vernacular they use regularly on the show. Whether you're a faithful listener or new to the Way of the Heart, this episode is full of a-ha moments as they provide context to terms like the foxhole,...

Why does it matter to know and define our personal values? Jake and Brett argue that discovering our personal value system can help us understand and live God's unique design for our lives. Whether we have taken the time to define our core values or not, we all live out of an unspoken code. The more we seek to live a well-ordered life and come to understand what makes us tick, the better we can fu...

Jake and Brett continue the conversation from last episode about what's going on in the culture. The topics on the table are "cancel culture" and the digitization of everything, but most importantly how these trends affect the way of the heart.   Guiding Quote:   "The Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and interpreting them in light of the Gospel." - Gaudium Et S...

Bishop Scott McCaig, CC is back to share what he sees happening on a heart-level in our culture today. If we want to truly live the way of the heart, we have to understand the culture we're living in instead of burying our heads in the sand. Then, we must engage there from a place of love. Join us for an enlightening conversation that closes with a challenge and a dose of hope.    Guiding Quote: F...

Show Notes:   Jake and Brett welcome Bishop Scott McCaig, CC back onto the podcast to revisit a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church that addresses the way of the heart. They each share reflections on the heart as a place of authenticity, decision and encounter. The Catechism describes the heart as "the dwelling-place of where I am." If we want to live in full freedom, we must understan...

In this episode of the Way of the Heart, we host special guest Bishop Scott McCaig, CC. We dialogue about discerning the internal critic and what voices belong to the enemy, the self, and the Holy Spirit. We discuss how the enemy and the self often condemn us, whereas the Holy Spirit lovingly convicts us of the truth that brings about good fruit in our lives. We distinguish that condemnation leads...

Jake revisits his low from the last episode, which revolves around friendship dynamics and his shortcomings. Brett presses into the recent and humbling experience Jake had with an old friend, and the two launch into a discussion about the power of self-awareness, safety and virtue when you're experiencing relational drift with a friend. This is heart-level stuff, but as Jake says, it's important t...

Brett's low this week leads to an extended conversation about the internal critic, a diminishing voice that tends to show up when we least want it to: during a work meeting, right before an important exam or in an important conversation with a loved one. Where does the diminisher come from and how can we tell the voice of the enemy from the voice of God? Brett and Jake share their reflections and...

As men, we often find it difficult to look at our woundedness and need for healing. Why is that, and what can we do to engage the process better in this important area? In this episode, renowned Catholic psychologist Dr. Bob Schuchts joins Jake and Brett to discuss healing in a deeply personal way. The three men share examples of healing in their own lives, and Dr. Bob helps Jake work through a ch...

Loneliness is epidemic among men today. The thing is, we're not meant to live without deep friendship. Join Jake and Brett as they get real about the strength they've found in their own friendship and how they have intentionally invested in it over time. They share why every man needs true brothers who will walk with them through the trenches of life, and how to go about building friendships like...

In today's episode, Brett and Jake engage with deep questions of the heart as they discuss the shrinking church. While they begin by citing Canadian stats, this trend is evident in other Western countries. Brett and Jake address why it is that culturally speaking, Jesus isn't seen as relevant anymore. They also share some thoughts on why it's crucial that the Church as a whole accepts a share in t...

How often do we pause to think about how we're spending our time? Are the things that are taking up our attention truly making us feel alive? In this episode, Jake and Brett explore a list of the things they turn to for life. Naturally, prayer, close relationships and sports make the list, but there are also a few surprises!   Key Quote: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." - John 14:6   K...

Now is not a very popular time to be a Catholic. The culture which was once steeped in Christian ideals is now hostile to those same ideals and beliefs. In this episode, Jake and Brett discuss a book that's currently taking the Catholic world by storm which can help us understand this shift. "From Christendom to Apostolic Mission" is a short and pithy book that's easy to read and extremely relevan...

Our lives are increasingly distracted, and our constantly connected state can threaten to overwhelm us. Jake and Brett discuss how the art of benevolent detachment can help you 'get your life back' and stay focused on what's most important. Benevolent detachment allows us to re-prioritize our time to be more loving and frees us from self-reliance. It can help us to live happier and holier lives.  ...

We all have times in our life where the stress piles up and the tasklist seems endless. This week, Jake and Brett go down an unscripted route as they dive a little deeper into the reasons behind our desire to control as men. They talk about how to handle busy seasons as a man of God, how to find some sanity and learn the important difference between domination and dominion.    Connect with Way of...