Curiously Catholic

Join Naomi Haramai as she sits down with Matthew Mystczewski to talk faith, family, and the realities of entrepreneurship. Discover how Catholic values intersect with building a business, managing time, and navigating today’s challenges.
The role of faith and family in shaping business decisions
Balancing entrepreneurship, marriage, and parenthood
The discipline required for success in work and spiritual life
The risks and rewards of the entrepreneurial journey
The impact and potential of virtual reality technology in modern life

00:00 Balancing work from home and family
09:18 Balancing family and business priorities
15:57 Defining success in personal terms
18:33 Building a Family Foundation
24:36 Scheduling prayer and spiritual time
27:29 Starting the gardening business
35:05 Structuring the workday with breaks
41:02 Balancing work and passion goals
45:40 Finding purpose in suffering
50:51 Balancing parenting and personal goals
55:38 Balancing business startup with family
01:02:12 Ethics of wealth and success
01:07:28 Reflecting on inner struggles
01:12:37 Struggles and joy in business
01:21:19 Building resilience through challenges
01:23:15 Avoiding video game addiction
01:27:48 Using VR to treat phobias
01:34:53 Encouragement for aspiring entrepreneurs

Catholicism, entrepreneurship, family, virtual reality, business, faith, parenting, discipline, homeschooling, spiritual life, software engineering, New Zealand, success, sacrifice, grind culture, work-life balance, VR therapy, overcoming phobias, motivation, men's ministry, Fit for the Kingdom, joy, suffering, calling, time management, personal growth, fatherhood, resilience

Meet the dynamic duo behind the Messy Family Project as they discuss the realities of raising a large Catholic family in the modern world. In this episode, Michael and Alicia Hernan share hard-won wisdom, authentic stories, and practical advice on parenthood and faith.

The Hernans’ journey of having 10 kids and 10 grandchildren, and how family shapes faith
The challenges and growth from parenting young children to adults
Parenting in the digital age: screens, technology, and protecting real relationships
The importance of community, learning from others, and avoiding online parenting pitfalls
How to build virtue and positive behaviours in children through realistic expectations and modeling

00:00 Growing up in large families
06:25 Value of sibling relationships
14:22 Balancing faith and family life
21:16 Thoughts on the traditional wife
23:38 Trad wife expectations and frustrations
31:03 Balancing technology and family life
33:59 Concerns about kids and technology
42:06 Teaching kids to take turns
44:12 Parenting through teen transitions

Messy Family Project, parenting, Catholic family, Michael Hernan, Alicia Hernan, large families, raising children, virtue, faith, technology, social media, community, gentle parenting, family life, marriage, New Zealand, Catholic conference, generational wisdom, kids and screens, modern parenting, family vocation

Is the "disciplined life" actually sustainable, or is it just a path to burnout? In this episode of the Curious Catholic Evangelion Podcast, I sit down with Tomas Mones-Cason from Fit for the Kingdom to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to live with heroic virtue.

Thomas shares his raw experience balancing the growth of a massive social media platform with the upcoming arrival of his first child. We dive deep into the "soul-crushing" moments of early wake-ups, why quality matters less than consistency in the age of AI, and the explosive Catholic revival currently taking place in Christchurch. Whether you are struggling to stay on the "hard path" or curious about the St. Michael's Troop movement, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for the modern Catholic man.

Key Topics Covered:
The reality of the 4 AM wake-up call and how to stop hitting snooze.
The impact of the Radio New Zealand (RNZ) article on the local Catholic community.

Connect with us:
Follow Evangelion for more episodes on faith and discipline.
Check out Thomas at Fit for the Kingdom for daily virtue-driven content.

Video Chapters
00:00 Struggling with spiritual routine
08:28 Finding motivation in role models
14:49 Importance of intentional leisure
17:28 Finding your reasons to exercise
24:40 Living with stoic mindset
26:24 Finding satisfaction in effort
35:37 Consequences of modern lifestyle choices
38:11 The richness of Catholic traditions
42:35 The purpose of the Church
51:25 Masculinity in church leadership54:55 Discussing gender roles in society
01:02:32 Discussing Andrew Tate's appeal
01:08:56 Young role models in faith
01:11:52 Integrating spiritual and physical virtues
01:15:37 Morning routine and reflections
01:20:27 Parenting through example
01:26:05 Sharing faith through podcasting

Good Friday is tomorrow, and it's time to reflect deeply on the meaning of Christ's Passion. In this episode, we explore the real consequences of sin and what Easter truly means for our lives.

Facing the reality and consequences of our sins
The tension between human imperfection and God's forgiveness
Lessons from Pontius Pilate’s role in the Passion narrative
How God transforms our faults and failures
Practical ways to welcome the risen Christ into daily life

00:00 Reflecting on sin and forgiveness
05:43 Reflecting on Good Friday traditions
07:55 Pontius Pilate's role in the story
13:08 Pontius Pilate and the labeling
14:52 Christ’s victory and atonement
19:12 Balancing family visits and energy
21:14 Making time for Christ

Good Friday, Easter, Passion, sin, forgiveness, Psalm 51, repentance, Pontius Pilate, Barabbas, heroism, sacrifice, humility, Lent, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, resurrection, Christ crucified, guilt, confession, redemption, Old Testament, Mosaic law, suffering, consolation, routine, relationship with Christ, Messy Family Project, Dr. Robert Haddad, Catholic faith, spiritual reflection, Holy Week

Are Muslims better at fasting than Catholics? In this episode, Dom breaks down the differences between Ramadan and Lent, asking if the Church has softened or if we’re missing the point.

- Comparing the intensity of fasting during Ramadan and Lent
- How modern Catholic fasting differs from traditional practices
- The importance of engaging with your own vocation during Lent
- Practical ways to focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving
- Why Lent isn’t about intensity, but building a deeper relationship with Christ

00:00 "Your Vocation Is Your Program"
06:30 "Prioritize Vocation Over Distractions"
10:17 "Benefits of Spiritual Reading"
14:08 "Personal Sacrifice in Fasting"
15:10 "Living Lent with Intentionality"

Ramadan, Lent, fasting, Catholicism, Islam, prayer, almsgiving, spiritual practices, intensity comparison, family life, sacrifice, New Zealand bishops, spiritual reading, silence, vocation, personal growth, religious traditions, spirituality, discipline, self-mastery, church rules, relationship with Christ, Curiosity Catholic, Evangelion podcast