Podcast
Claymore: Become Who You Are
Hosted by Jack · EN
What’s the meaning and purpose of my life? What is my true identity? Why were we created male and female? How do I find happiness, joy and peace? How do I find love that lasts, forever? These are the timeless questions of the human heart. Join Jack Rigert and his guests for lively insights, reading the signs of our times through the lens of Catholic Teaching and the insights of Saint John Paul ll to guide us.
Saint Catherine of Siena said "Become who you are and you would set the world on fire".
70episodes
Episodes
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#650 (Claymore 5) "Romantic Challenges to True Love; The Fall and the Normalization of Sin"
Aug 9, 202500:55:13Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”The human heart is the first battlefield in the war between love and lust. As we navigate a culture that normalizes sin and distorts our capacity for authentic connection, Jesus offers us more than rules—He offers transformation.This episode explores the Claymore Battle Plan, a three-step approach to spiritual warfare focused on restoring the individual heart, rebuilding marriage and family, and reclaiming culture for Christ. Satan, lacking creative power, can only attack what God created good—especially humanity made in God's image. This explains why today's most devastating cultural assaults target the unborn child and the institution of marriage.The path forward requires reconnecting to divine love and allowing Christ to heal our hearts. Our conscience forms the interior treasure that guides us toward eternity, shaping not just our own destiny but the moral landscape for generations to come. Will you join the battle for authentic love? Download the Claymore Battle Plan and take your stand against the normalization of sin.Subscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Read Jack's Latest Blog: "The Tale We’ve Fallen Into"Support the show
Transcribe →#649 Finding Alex: A Russian Adoption Story, and the Relentless Love of God
Aug 7, 202500:45:54Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”The box had been gathering dust under the bed for years. Inside were the remnants of a journey to Russia that forever changed Jamie McAleer's family. "I never thought I'd go to Russia," she recalls, having grown up during the Cold War when the Soviet Union was considered the enemy. Yet God had other plans that would take her across the world to find her son.Listen to this moving conversation that will challenge you to recognize God's hand in your own life story and consider how sharing your journey might inspire generations to come.Find Jamie's Book Here: I Will Come To YouFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Read Jack's Latest Blog: "The Tale We’ve Fallen Into"Support the show
Transcribe →#648 Inside the Jeffrey Epstein Web of Corruption: Dark Networks With No Moral Compass
Aug 5, 202500:49:07Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”A dark web of money, power, and government complicity surrounds the Jeffrey Epstein case – arguably the largest child sex trafficking operation ever uncovered. Crime investigator Tom Hampson takes us beyond the headlines to expose how this predator operated with impunity for decades.Epstein's journey from financial mastermind to sex trafficker reveals a troubling pattern. Initially valued for his ability to create shell corporations for arms dealers and billionaires, Epstein leveraged these connections to build an operation that processed $1.5 billion in transactions related to human trafficking – with major banks blocking suspicious activity reports from government review.The podcast explores disturbing historical precedents like the CIA's "Operation Midnight Climax," where intelligence agencies hired prostitutes to drug and film unwitting men in sexual encounters. This context helps explain how government agencies became entangled with Epstein's network, with former Secret Service agent Dan Bongino stating after his investigation: "I'll never be the same after learning what I've learned."Read Part 2: The Troubling Case of Jeffrey EpsteinFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Read Jack's Latest Blog: "The Tale We’ve Fallen Into"Support the show
Transcribe →#647 Claymore (4) "In The Beginning, Awe, Wonder and a Cosmic Explosion of Love!"
Aug 1, 202500:35:10Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”What if your body was designed to tell a cosmic love story? In this profound exploration of human sexuality, Jack unveils how our creation as male and female reflects something far deeper than biology—it mirrors the very nature of God's Trinitarian love.The episode introduces the Claymore Battle Plan, a revolutionary framework helping men navigate today's confusing cultural landscape. Rather than offering superficial solutions, this approach digs into three fundamental realities: the human heart's deepest longings, the irreplaceable role of marriage and family, and our essential connection to Christ and the Church. These aren't arbitrary religious concepts but the very foundation of human flourishing.Drawing from Pope John Paul II's theology of the body, Jack explains how our physical design reveals profound spiritual truth. "The body, and it alone, is capable of making visible what is invisible—the spiritual and divine," he quotes. This understanding transforms everything about how we see ourselves and our relationships. When husband and wife unite and bring forth children, they participate in a "tiny created reflection of Trinitarian love"—where two become one and create a third.The breakdown we see in society—from inner-city violence to the emptiness of modern political leadership—stems directly from losing this foundational understanding. Without recognizing the sacramental nature of our bodies and relationships, we're left with a culture that uses people and loves things instead of the reverse.Join our growing community of men seeking something deeper than what modern culture offers. Download the Claymore Battle Plan at jp2renew.org, connect with others for discussion, and discover how becoming a person of love transforms not just your life, but rebuilds society from its foundations.Discussion Questions with Scripture and Catechism References· How does the creation of humanity as male and female reflect the Trinitarian love of God, and what does this reveal about the purpose of our bodies?Reference: Genesis 1:26–28; Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 355–357: “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them… Being in the image of God, the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone.”· Jesus points to “the beginning” to explain God’s design for marriage (Matthew 19:3–8). How can returning to God’s original plan for humanity help us navigate moral and sexual confusion in the modern world?Reference: Matthew 19:3–8; CCC 1603–1605: “The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws… God himself is the author of marriage.”· John Paul II describes the body as having a “spousal meaning” that expresses love and self-gift. How can understanding this truth shape the way we view sexuality and relationships?Reference: Genesis 2:24–25; CCC 2331–2336: “Sexuality, by means of which man and woman give themselves to one another through the acts which are proper and exclusive to spouses… is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman.”· The chapter describes marriage as a “primordial sacrament” that reflects God’s Trinitarian life and love, ‘from the beginning’. How can married couples live out this sacramental calling in their daily lives, and what impact might this have on their families and communities?Reference: Ephesians 5:25–32; CCC 1613–1617: “By its very nature [marriage] is ordered to the good of the couple, as well Support the show
Transcribe →#646 Bobby Fredericksen's Life Changed! How To Live intentionally and Create A Family Mission Statement
Jul 31, 202500:55:22Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”A profound midnight Mass experience transformed Bobby Fredericksen from a corporate party-goer to a purpose-driven Catholic father and podcaster. His conversion story reveals how encountering Christ's peace in the Eucharist altered the trajectory of his life."When you're in this desert, it's pretty lonely," he shares, describing how he gradually built Catholic friendships through men's groups, podcasts, and parish activities. His approach to "normalizing Catholicism" resonates particularly with men seeking authentic faith without becoming "weird" or disconnected from their identity.Whether you're a convert seeking community, a parent wanting to strengthen your family's Catholic identity, or someone looking to integrate faith more seamlessly into daily life, Bobby's practical wisdom offers actionable insights for living "purposely Catholic" in today's world. Explore his podcasts—The Catholic Couple and Purposely Catholic—for more inspiration on normalizing and celebrating authentic Catholic living. Read his article: Creating a Catholic Family Mission Statement: A Guide to Unity, Purpose, and FaithJacks Latest Blog Young Men United in the Eucharist: Heroically Rebuilding the Three Necessary SocietiesFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Support the show
Transcribe →#645 Looking For A Spiritual Coach and Trainer? Meet St. Philip Neri Whose Enlarged Heart Can Transform Yours!
Jul 29, 202500:38:38Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Meet Rob Marco! He not only shares his own remarkable journey but introduces us to St. Philip Neri, a 16th-century saint, who combined profound holiness with infectious joy!It's Philip's unique combination of deep prayer and playful humor that truly sets him apart. As Rob explains, "Philip needed to take himself less seriously. He needed his book of jokes, his book of medicine, to bring him back down to earth after these ecstasies."Perhaps most remarkable about Saint Philip Neri was his extraordinary mystical experience at age 29. While praying for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, he had a vision of a globe of fire entering through his mouth and settling in his heart. This experience physically enlarged his heart to twice its normal size, even breaking several ribs. For the rest of his life, his heart would beat with such intensity that others could hear and feel it. This physical manifestation represented his overwhelming love for God and humanity.Find Rob's book "Coached by Philip Neri: Lessons in Joy" from Scepter Publishers or on Amazon, and dive into a refreshing approach to holiness that might be exactly what our troubled world needs today.Support the show
Transcribe →#644 Claymore (3): Famous Exorcist Fr. Gabriele Amorth Left us a Practical Spiritual Warfare Handbook w Michael Lichens
Jul 25, 202500:49:56Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”We explore Father Gabriele Amorth's book "God Most Powerful," which serves as a practical handbook for spiritual warfare. Rather than becoming obsessed with evil, Father Amorth encourages us to focus on strengthening our relationship with God through prayer, sacraments, and embracing truth. The best defense against darkness isn't fear but cultivating goodness and wonder in our daily lives.The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we discuss how young people today are desperately seeking meaning in a culture that often reduces humans to mere biological accidents. As one psychiatrist observed, "Young men will crawl over broken glass to find meaning." This search becomes particularly challenging when our society distorts language and rejects fundamental realities about human nature. St. Edith Stein's profound wisdom offers guidance: "Speak the truth in love and love people in the truth. One without the other is a destructive lie."Michael also reveals how developing relationships with saints provides spiritual allies in times of darkness. His simple prayer during the worst moments—"You're God, I'm not, please help"—offers immediate relief by acknowledging the divine relationship that sustains us.Our guest Michael Lichens, author and editor with a passion for overlooked aspects of Christian history, walks us through this harrowing yet ultimately redemptive story. Purchase Link: God Most Powerful, By Fr. Gabriele Amorth, An Exorcists Testament to God's Victory over SatanReady to discover how wonder might transform your own battles? Listen now, and consider downloading the Claymore Militus Christi Battle Plan and join us in reclaiming what it means to be a man. Share this episode with someone and discuss the questions together: Discuss Ephesians 6:10-20. In it Saint Paul says, "For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the world rulers of this present darkness...Discuss how this is seen in our culture today: Sister Lucia of Fatima wrote, "The last great battle between Our Lord and Satan will be fought over marriage and the family". While listening to the podcast Consider and discuss: "Young people are searching for the truth and this is what Father Amorth brings out over and over and over again, the importance of staying in the truth and reality. Truth and reality. Where do you find the truth? What is real? How should I live my life right? What is my identity?"Jacks Latest Blog Young Men United in the Eucharist: Heroically Rebuilding the Three Necessary SocietiesFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Sign up for our Newsletter: https://jp2renew.org/Support the show
Transcribe →#643 The Troubling Case of Jeffrey Epstein: We're Failing Our Children--The Evil of Child Exploitation
Jul 22, 202500:55:25Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Jack and Thomas Hampson delve into the troubling case of Jeffrey Epstein, exploring its implications on child exploitation, deep state corruption, and the moral crisis in society. They discuss the importance of parental rights, the accountability of government and intelligence agencies, and the need for community involvement in addressing these issues. The conversation emphasizes the power of truth and love in combating the exploitation of innocence and the necessity for individuals to take action in their communities.As Hampson quotes, "Not to act is to act, not to speak is to speak." What will you do with the truth you now possess?The conversation widens to connect child exploitation to broader moral issues, including recent Supreme Court decisions on parental rights and the growing movement to protect children from inappropriate sexualization in schools. As both hosts emphasize, civilization's greatest threat comes not from external forces but internal moral corruption.Read Tom's Articles and Subscibe on SubstackOr Here at the Illinois Family Institute "The Troubling Case of Jeffrey Epstein"Jacks Latest Blog Young Men United in the Eucharist: Heroically Rebuilding the Three Necessary SocietiesFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Sign up for our Newsletter: https://jp2renew.org/Support the show
Transcribe →#642 Claymore (2) The Battlefield of the Heart! Awakened by Beauty, Commissioned for Battle, Seeking Adventure and Truth
Jul 18, 202500:42:41Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”What if your deepest desires—even the ones that sometimes feel overwhelming or confusing—weren't obstacles to overcome but rocket fuel for your spiritual journey? In this profound exploration of authentic masculinity, Jack and Mark Schmitt unpack how the Claymore Battle Plan helps men redirect their passions toward their divine purpose.Drawing from Jack's childhood memories of adventure, battle, and beauty, we discover how these core masculine themes reflect our deepest spiritual longings. That magnetic pull toward beauty you've experienced? It's actually a divine spark designed to draw you out of yourself and into communion with God. The conversation takes a practical turn as Jack and Mark address the daily battlefield of the human heart. Rather than repressing desires or indulging them, they offer a third way: opening our passions to God and allowing Him to transform them. When you notice beauty that stirs something in you—whether a person or anything that awakens longing—you can immediately redirect that spark toward gratitude and prayer.This approach reveals an extraordinary truth: your temptations aren't roadblocks to sanctity but can set you on the very path itself. Jacks Latest Blog Young Men United in the Eucharist: Heroically Rebuilding the Three Necessary SocietiesFollow us and watch on X: John Paul II Renewal @JP2RenewalSubscribe to our Newly Resurrected YouTube Channel!Sign up for our Newsletter: https://jp2renew.org/Support the show
Transcribe →#231: Where do you live? In the City of God or in the City of Man? Meditation on Scripture for June 26
Jun 21, 2022Tap to summarizeLove to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”This is Tuesday Night in the Smith Home for June 26, 2022. link to Tuesday Night in the Smith HomeAlso LISTEN TO podcast #201: Without "Metanoia" We Perish with Father Timothy Vaverek and #190: The Eucharist; "on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of His Body and Blood" A Retreat with St. Therese of Lisieux (10) Please consider being a Sponsor of the show! "We need You!"Buckle up! Here is your Hero (Become a Saint) Homework! 1. Go to Mass, the most important prayer! Try to make an extra Mass during the week. 2. Take the wedding bath...the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once per month 3. Read Scripture daily 4. Pray the Rosary Every Day! See Podcast #'s 118, 119, 120, 121 to pray along as a family! See Podcast #'s 108, 110, 111, 112 to pray the Rosary with the Gospel Story! 5. Spend 10 minutes a day in Silence.Please share this with your friends and family!Don't forget to sign up for our Newsletter!! JPll Renewal Center email listEmail me with questions!Contact Jack: BWYR Podcast is a production of the John Paul ll Renewal Center or email him at info@jp2renew.orgSupport the show
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