Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

What if Santa Claus wasn’t just a character… but a calling? In this unforgettable episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with one of my oldest and dearest friends, Eddie Cotter, Jr.—a longtime Catholic youth minister who unexpectedly took on the role of Santa Claus and eventually ended up appearing as Santa at Rockefeller Center in New York City! What starts as a fun conversation turns into something deeply moving as Eddie tells the story of how he became Santa Claus for his autistic grandson, attended the Harvard of Santa training schools, and has had some truly magical experiences serving in this beloved role. And then… Eddie steps out, and Santa Claus himself walks in for an exclusive interview! Yes. I really interviewed Santa Claus. And yes…I cried. Santa gets deep as we delve into the history of St. Nicholas, the backstories behind some well-known Christmas traditions and legends, and how Santa Claus points us to the real reason for the season—the greatest gift of all. This episode is about hope, goodness, repentance, and the deep truth behind Christmas—that God really did come into the world, and love still wins. You do not want to miss this one. HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 – Intro 02:51 – How Eddie first felt called to become Santa 06:14 – The moment Santa changed Eddie’s autistic grandson’s life 07:17 – “Lord… if You want me to do this, I’m in” 09:05 – Santa school is WAY more intense than you think 14:35 – Why being Santa makes you a better Christian 17:42 – The Rockefeller Center Santa moment 19:37 – “I’ll never live long enough to give back that much love” 31:39 – Santa Claus walks into the studio 36:38 – What it means to be Santa Claus 37:40 – Redemption from the Naughty List 39:12 – The Legend of Receiving Coal 41:20 – The Story of St. Nicholas 46:10 – St. Nick Bows Before the King (A New York Story) 49:54 – Santa's Outift Explained 52:53 – How He Does It All In One Night 59:55 – Milk and Cookies 1:03:01 – Be A Giver 1:04:54 – Santa's Message to Those Struggling This Christmas ........ Learn more about Eddie's work: Eddie's ministry: https://deadtheologianssociety.com Eddie's book: https://deadtheologianssociety.com/product/wisdom-inspiration-from-the-saints-in-a-sentence/ Email Santa: [email protected] Book Santa Claus Eddie: santaclauseddie.com ........ Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to the new Living Peace study series: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages Chapters (00:00:06) - Interviewing Santa Claus(00:01:00) - The Chris Stefanik Show(00:02:22) - Santa Is Here for Holidays(00:02:50) - Santa Is a Santa for Autism Child(00:09:15) - Have You Changed Since Having a Baby?(00:09:55) - Chris Stefanik(00:13:41) - Santa on Becoming Santa Claus(00:17:03) - Santa Wishes He Could Be Santa Claus(00:22:06) - George Clooney on Christmas(00:25:26) - What Goes Into Santa's School(00:29:37) - Santa on My Show(00:33:37) - Santa Comes to the Kids(00:35:40) - Santa on Being Santa(00:37:42) - Christmas: The Nice List and the Naughty List(00:39:12) - The Legend of The Coal(00:41:15) - The Saint Nicholas' Stockings(00:45:57) - Witnessing the Christmas story(00:51:09) - Santa in the Christmas Story(00:55:12) - Santa Visits Homes Around the World(00:58:36) - Christmas Gifts for the Reindeer(01:01:10) - Santa's elves(01:01:17) - St. Nicholas: The Wonder Worker(01:04:38) - Santa's Christmas message

As we draw close to the mystery of Christmas, we don’t just discover who God is—we discover who we are...and what we're worth. When you look at the face of the Christ child in the manger, you’re not just seeing Emmanuel, God with us. You’re seeing your own value reflected back at you. Your worth is revealed by what God was willing to pay for you. And the price wasn’t silver or gold...It was the precious blood of Christ. In this reflection I offer some thoughts on what your true price tag should mean for your own self-worth—how you take care of your body, how you talk about yourself, how you think about your sin, and what it means when we hear "Body of Christ." Here's the game plan: 1. Take better care of yourself. 2. Value the people around you. 3. See your sins in the proper light. Don't sell yourself to the lowest bidder...especially when that lowest bidder is your own negative self-talk. Take a few quiet minutes this weekend. Look at Him, remember what you're really worth, and honor how precious you are to God. Special thanks to Rick Warren for the inspiration on this one! DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. In what ways do you personally struggle to believe your worth is as great as God says it is? 2. Where in your life might you be “selling yourself to the lowest bidder” instead of living from your true value? 3. How does seeing Jesus as an infant in Bethlehem change the way you see yourself? 4. What would it look like—practically—to treat yourself with the dignity God has already given you? 5. How can you better reflect God’s attentiveness and love to the people around you this week? ----- Sign up for Chris Stefanick's daily reflections in The Daily Anchor: https://reallifecatholic.com/daily-anchor-advent/ ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW Chapters (00:00:00) - As you approach the mystery of God's worth(00:06:34) - Be reminded of Your Worth!

Picture a football stadium full of 80,000 people. Research indicates that you will influence that many people during the course of your lifetime. (even if you don't have your own YouTube channel) But who is in your stadium? And what does it sound like in there? Are people cheering for the ways you positively affected them? Are they booing for all the terrible things you did? Or are they silent because you were on your phone most of the time and ambivalent to those around you? In this thought-provoking conversation, leadership expert Tommy Spaulding poses these important questions and talks through his own personal story of hitting rock bottom with hidden depression and familial turmoil despite outward worldly success. He relates the story of how he rediscovered his inherent value as a child of God and his potential for influencing those around him. His wife arranged a 50th birthday celebration that involved giving him 50 handwritten-letters—one each day leading up to his birthday—from family, friends, acquaintances...even the HVAC repairman! These letters showed Tommy that even small gestures for other people can make them feel loved and have a huge impact. This new perspective has led him to live each encounter with another person as if they will one day be sitting in his 80,000-person stadium, and he offers tips from his new book The Gift of Influence so YOU can change your everyday interactions to lean into that idea, too. You matter more than you know. You don't need a podcast or thousands of Instagram followers to be an influencer. Your mere existence is a blessing, and your daily interactions—with family, friends, and even strangers—can change their lives forever. As we approach Christmas and the start of a new year, it's a good time to think about how you're treating the other people in your stadium. Get Tommy's book, The Gift of Influence: https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Influence-Creating-Life-Changing-Interactions/dp/0593138635/ HIGHLIGHTS 00:00 — You Matter More Than You Think 01:56 — Writing from Pain, Not the Mountaintop 03:16 — Success on the Outside, Rock Bottom on the Inside 07:36 — The Plane Ride Where He Prayed It Would End 09:40 — The Birthday That Saved His Life 14:02 — “She Gave Me the Gift of Influence” 15:25 — Why Social Media Hijacked the Word “Influencer” 17:42 — The 80,000-Person Stadium That Is Your Life 21:56 — “What’s the Sound of Your Stadium?” 38:48 — Mrs. Lynn - An Influencer Story 52:16 — The Caribou Coffee Moment 55:58 — “God Bless You” at Jiu-Jitsu ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for. Get Daily Advent Reflections right now, including exclusive videos with Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages Chapters (00:00:00) - Your Life Decodes(00:00:33) - Joy to the World(00:03:14) - When you were 49, you were financially on the edge of life(00:10:13) - A Mother's Love Letter for Her(00:11:17) - The Gift of Influencing Lives(00:15:43) - In the Elevator With Jay-Z(00:17:11) - The Average Human Being Influences 80,000 People in Their Lifetime(00:21:44) - Chris Farley on His Book(00:24:39) - Sum Up: How to Make Friends and Influence People(00:26:53) - Don't Network, Net-Give(00:29:33) - 3 Eyes: Influence, Investment, Intent(00:34:05) - Don't Let Your Story Be About You(00:38:10) - A Story about Mrs. Lynn Lin(00:42:15) - The Gift of Influence(00:48:44) - How to Reach the People(00:49:49) - A Story of My Child(00:53:46) - The Story of Tate influencing a teen's love life(00:56:59) - Chris Melvoin on How Much Does My Life Matter?

It’s beautiful to want good things and to build a great life in our time on earth. But here’s where it all gets twisted: When the dream stops being about God and the blessings He’s given us, and quietly becomes all about me—my security, my reputation, my legacy. I’ve seen it in family life. I’ve seen it in ministry. I’ve seen it in my own heart. This is where John the Baptist becomes a perfect model for us as an "anti-influencer." He had a massive following and huge crowds hanging on his words. But his life wasn't built on what his personal legacy could be. He pointed to Jesus. He knew that he was simply a voice...and Jesus was the Word incarnate. In this reflection, I discuss: What it really means to say, “He must increase, I must decrease” How to keep “first things first” and let everything else fall into place John the Baptist as a pattern of Christian living C.S. Lewis’ line: “Put first things first and you get second things thrown in…” How to examine your dreams and “drain your legacy” so it’s truly about Jesus Oh, and watch til the end to see me try to walk on water. I encourage you to take 10 minutes and pray about this question: What am I actually trying to build with my life? Am I pointing to Christ? Know that I’m praying for you as you lean into these last days of Advent with joyful repentance and a heart that says: “He must increase. I must decrease.” DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. When you imagine your “dream life,” what’s at the center of it—comfort, success, security, or Jesus? Be honest. 2. Where have good desires (for family, work, or ministry) started to shift into building “your own kingdom”? What are some signs of that in your life? 3. John the Baptist calls himself “a voice” pointing to the “Word.” If someone looked at your life from the outside, what would they say your life is “a voice” for? 4. C.S. Lewis said that if we put first things first, we get second things thrown in; if we put second things first, we lose both. What are some “second things” you’ve been tempted to put first lately? 5. Where do you get distracted by the things of God instead of God Himself (debates, preferences, liturgical details, online arguments, etc.)? 6. As Advent comes to a close, what is one concrete way you can “decrease” so that Christ can “increase” in your family, your work, or your ministry this week? ----- Sign up for Chris Stefanick's daily Advent reflections: https://reallifecatholic.com/daily-anchor-advent/ ----- Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ----- Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages ----- Learn more about CORE, Real Life Catholic's new Confirmation prep experience for the next generation to be released in 2026: https://bit.ly/4p6HrsW Chapters (00:00:00) - Baby's First Christmas(00:00:27) - What Dream Life Are You Trying to Build?(00:03:11) - John the Baptist(00:07:26) - A Legacy of Christian Living(00:11:11) - Walking On Water(00:11:43) - Advent is Over: Keep Lifting In

Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But what if the hardest person for you to love…is you? In this profound new episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Dr. Peter Malinoski, Catholic psychologist and founder of Souls & Hearts, to unpack one of the most misunderstood teachings of Jesus: the command to love yourself. Because here’s the thing no one tells you: You can’t love your neighbor if you hate yourself. And you can’t love God wholeheartedly if you’re rejecting the person He created. If you wrestle with negative self-talk, perfectionism, shame, or the belief that you're "not enough"…this episode offers you a strong wakeup call from those lies. We also dive into the psychology of inner conflict, how fragmented “parts” of us block us from God’s love, and why accepting love can sometimes feel scary and painful, but ultimately transforming. We even pray the powerful Litany of Self-Love together — trust me, you need this. Self-love isn't selfish...It's opening yourself up to receive God's goodness. God delights in you. And he wants you to learn to delight in yourself, too. Want more with Dr. Peter? Check out our previous interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoTUVoSSRbU ........ Sign up for the Daily Anchor for FREE and receive daily reflections, updates, and encouragement from Chris Stefanick to help you live with the joy you were made for. Get Daily Advent Reflections right now, including exclusive videos with Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk ........ Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0 ........ The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/ ........ Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages Chapters (00:00:00) - Beautiful reflections from Cardinal Cantalmasa(00:01:24) - Dr. Peter Malinowski on EWTN(00:01:41) - The Importance of Self Love(00:07:43) - Mission: Mission of Joy(00:14:58) - How to Love Yourself(00:19:26) - How to Accept the Love of God First(00:25:38) - How to Love Your Neighbors(00:30:58) - The Hero's Journey(00:33:12) - Self-Love for Catholics Podcast(00:37:41) - The Litany of Self-Love(00:39:56) - Deliver Me, Jesus From the Pain of Self-Hatred