Slowing Down: Fighting Hustle Culture & the Craziness of Life [Ep. 83]

We talk about something that feels almost counter-cultural today: the power of slowing down.

From Fr. Fadi's beautiful multi-course Italian dinner for the Bishop to the everyday grind most of us live in, we explore how constant work, hustle culture, and “rise and grind” thinking are quietly harming our faith, families, and peace of mind.

We unpack why true leisure isn’t laziness—it’s actually one of the most human and Christian things we can do.

We discuss "Babette’s Feast," how shared meals have shaped Christian culture for centuries, the beauty of real conversation and presence, and why the Sabbath is meant to be a protest against the worship of work and money. We also get honest about the struggle: busy parents, priest life, economic pressures, and how hard it is to break the habit of constant busyness.

Featuring: Fr. Simon Esshaki, Fr. Andy Younan, Fr. Fadi Auro, Fr. Christopher Somo

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00:00 A Special Seminary Dinner
02:31 Faith, Culture, and Meals
03:35 Babette's Feast
05:54 Table Manners and Virtue
09:57 Jesus Ministry at Table
12:05 Books, Films, and Slow Art
14:15 Doomscrolling and Lost Attention
16:57 Sabbath and Rest
19:59 Defining Leisure
27:45 Grind Kills Wonder
33:15 Worship Shapes Identity
36:43 Slow Food and Shared Meals
40:37 Dinner with Friends

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