Just a Guy in the Pew

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2026 – Moving Towards God

As a new year begins, it is easy to fall into the trap of resolutions rooted in self-reliance, perfectionism, and shame. In this episode, John and Victor talk honestly about why those approaches fail and why true renewal does not come from reinventing ourselves by our own effort, but from allowing God to convert and restore us to who we were created to be.

Find a healthier way to approach 2026 by grounding life in identity, choosing accompaniment over isolation, and committing to daily surrender.

If you are tired of chasing change that never lasts, this conversation will help you shift your focus away from worldly resolutions and toward real restoration by moving steadily, intentionally, and humbly toward God.

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A Man on Purpose with Pete Burak

What does it actually mean to be a man of God today?

In this episode of Just a Guy in the Pew, John Edwards sits down with Pete Burak, Vice President of Renewal Ministries and author of the brand new book, A Man on Purpose: 10 Rules of Life from a Faithful Father. They dive into the growing crisis of masculinity, the loss of identity and purpose for men, and the need for authentic Christian manhood.

Pete shares personal stories about his father, the lessons that shaped his life, and the moment that inspired him to write the book. At the center of it all is a call to live with purpose, courage, and a deep relationship with Jesus Christ.

Check out Pete’s new book, A Man On Purpose: 10 Rules of Life from a Faithful Father

And check out more of Pete’s work at: RenewalMinistries.net

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A Weary World Rejoices

The week after Christmas can feel strangely heavy. The celebration is over, the quiet settles in, and the weight of a new year starts pressing in. In this episode, John reflects on the line from O Holy Night that hit him in a new way, “a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,” and why this sacred pause between Christmas and New Year’s is meant for hope, not anxiety.

He challenges listeners to make a simple “holy list” with three focus points: one thing to let go of, one thing to heal, and one thing to build, so you stop trying to fix yourself through self-reliance and start letting Jesus heal what is actually broken.

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Christmas: Jesus Enters Into Our Mess

Christmas is not about having it all together. It is the reminder that God chose to come close precisely because we do not. In this episode, John reflects on what it means for Jesus to enter into the real pressures of Christmas week, including stress, regret, loneliness, family wounds, and the feeling of not being ready or worthy.

Drawing from the Nativity, Scripture, and his own story of addiction and conversion, John reminds us that Jesus does not wait for perfection; He waits for permission. Christ is born into a stable, not a palace, to show us that our brokenness is not something to hide from Him, but the very place He longs to enter and heal.

Merry Christmas!

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Advent: Grace in the Waiting

We live in a culture that hates to wait. Lines, delays, silence, and stillness all feel like problems to solve instead of places to meet God. In this episode, John reflects on how Advent invites us to do the opposite: to slow down, to wait, and to let the Lord work beneath the surface of our busy lives, even in seasons of suffering like his father’s recent cancer diagnosis.

Waiting exposes our fears, idols, and false escapes, and how God uses it to strip away unhealthy self-reliance and grow patience, humility, obedience, and trust. Drawing from Scripture, the lives of Mary and Joseph, he discusses concrete ways to step back from distraction and become more receptive to the grace God wants to give in these final days before Christmas.

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The Rule with Devin Schadt

Many men want to do better as husbands and fathers but feel lost on where to begin. In this episode, John welcomes back author and founder of the Fathers of St. Joseph, Devin Schadt, to talk about his new book The Rule, a practical guide for living the spirituality of St. Joseph in everyday life.

Devin shares how the book was born out of his own discouragement and how men repeatedly asked for clear, concrete direction on becoming the men God created them to be. He and John discuss the pillars of St. Joseph’s life, the importance of sonship, vocation, and spiritual authority, and why true growth happens when men embrace small daily practices with humility and perseverance.

If you have ever felt overwhelmed by your responsibilities or unsure how to take the next step in your spiritual life, this conversation offers simple, actionable wisdom grounded in the heart of St. Joseph.

Check out Devin’s new book, The Rule on Amazon or Sophia Press

And check out more of his work: CatholicGentleman.com and FathersofStJoseph.org

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Learn more about our upcoming pilgrimage to Poland!