Draw Near

Helping each person to draw near to Christ and to one another.

About the show

At Draw Near, we explore the beautiful truth that God, out of His deep and personal love for each of us, takes the first step to draw near. But this divine movement calls for a response—a response that shapes our lives and transforms our hearts. Together, we embark on this journey of faith, discovering the many ways God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit work within us.

Rooted in the Catholic faith, our podcast is a space where authenticity meets joy. We’re two best friends navigating life, family, and faith with honesty, humility, and a lot of love. Each episode is a heartfelt conversation—sometimes deep, sometimes lighthearted, but always real. We strive to be vulnerable, faithful, and passionate, sharing insights and stories to inspire you on your path toward Christ.

This is more than a podcast; it’s a shared journey toward sainthood. So come laugh with us, reflect with us, and grow with us as we Draw Near to God and one another. Let’s set out together on this adventure of faith, friendship, and grace.

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Episodes

  • Husbands, Love Your Wives - With Phillip Grothus

    September 14th, 2022  |  40 mins 41 secs
    advice, catholic, family life, growing, husbands, learning, love your wife, marriage, tips, wedding, wedding day

    Beginning a series on marriage and family life, Fred is joined by Draw Near listener and fellow Cobra Kai super fan, Phillip Grothus for a discussion on marriage. What have they learned? What advice would they give themselves on their wedding day? How much more do they still need to grow? Find out in this episode!

  • BONUS: Dad Jokes with Phillip Grothus - Part 1

    September 14th, 2022  |  4 mins 25 secs
    dad, dad jokes, jokes

    So bad, they are good. In the midst of recording several episodes on marriage and family life, we thought it would be fun to provide listeners with some behind the scenes bonus content. Enjoy!

  • Saying Goodbye

    August 30th, 2022  |  12 mins 30 secs
    draw near, encouragement, future, goodbye, love, plans

    Exciting news! Major life changes! And the future of Draw Near. All these are discussed in this episode. We also take a few moments to consider the problems with the way we typically say goodbye and the need to encourage one another. Why should we express gratitude and not take for granted that those closest to us know how much we love and care for them.

  • Our Father Part 6: Lead Us Not Into Temptation & Deliver Us From Evil

    August 17th, 2022  |  13 mins 19 secs
    deliver us from evil, lead us not into temptation, our father, series, small group, spiritual warfare, study

    Concluding our series on the Our Father, we look at the last two petitions in this prayer. Every human person faces trials and temptations. Scripture refers to a battle between flesh and spirit. What does this mean? What does this petition have to do with it? What value is there in temptation? What does these two petitions teach us about the battle between good and evil. In this episode we will answer all of these questions!

  • Our Father Part 5: Forgive Us Our Trespasses

    August 9th, 2022  |  10 mins 13 secs
    forgiveness, our father

    "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." This petition in the Our Father offers us both a challenge and an invitation. Each time we pray this, we acknowledge that we are forgiven and so we too must extend forgiveness. But how do we live this? In this episode Fred reflects on this petition and offers some advice from his own experience of finding forgiveness.

  • Our Father Part 4: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

    August 7th, 2022  |  12 mins 40 secs
    daily bread, eucharist, give us this day, our father, part 4, shortie

    This petition of the Our Father carries with it great meaning and depth. On one hand it is pointing toward the practical daily needs we all have and our dependence upon God. On the other hand, we also see great spiritual truths that should shape our relationship with God and with one another, as well as our role in helping to provide for the needs of others. What are these truths? What are we praying in this petition? What difference does it make? In this episode we will find out!

  • Our Father Part 3: Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

    June 26th, 2022  |  13 mins 5 secs
    our father, part 3, shorty, thy kingdom come, thy will be done

    Continuing to dive deep into the Our Father, in this episode Fred takes a look at the petitions, "Thy Kingdom Come" and "Thy Will Be Done." How can the Our Father help us to direct our hearts toward him and better understand his will? How should these two sentences shape our daily lives, our relationships, and the way we approach the world in which we live? Find out on this episode!

  • Our Father Part 2: Hallowed be Thy Name

    June 15th, 2022  |  11 mins 49 secs
    hallowed be thy name, our father, part 2, shorty

    To both grow in the life of prayer, and pray more fruitfully, it is important that we take the time to reflect on what we are praying, and what those words mean. This helps our prayers to be offered to God with greater devotion and fervency. That said, in this episode we continue our discussion on the Our Father. This week we will look at the line, “Hallowed be thy name."

  •

    Our Father: Part 1

    June 8th, 2022  |  14 mins 35 secs
    our father, part 1, shorty

    Many know this prayer and say it often. But what does it mean? What is happening in this prayer? What is Jesus teaching us in and through this prayer? In this first part of a series on the "Our Father" Fred begins to unpack, line by line, the profound meaning of this "most perfect prayer;" the Gospel in the form of prayer. How can a better understanding of the Our Father help you as you seek to draw near to the Lord? Join Fred in this series to find out!

  • Be a Saint or go to Hell (Pt 1)

    May 25th, 2022  |  43 mins 11 secs
    4 last things, death, eternal life, heaven, hell, judgement

    Despite the title, this episode (and part two that will follow next time) really is a LIGHTHEARTED discussion on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell.
    Drawing on our desire to become saints (strive to be a saint and to hell with everything else), as well as our desire to help others become saints, this episode takes a different direction than listeners may expect. Reflecting on the Four Last Things and our own eventual death lead us to a greater intimacy with Christ, and it could do the same in your life!

  • Why do THEY have a podcast?

    May 11th, 2022  |  44 mins 22 secs

    We recently heard a question about us. Someone asked another friend, "why do THEY have a podcast?" Instead of assuming their intentions behind the question, we prayed with the question. "Why?" In this episode we share why 2 nobodies, sinners, introverts, friends... felt led to begin a podcast. What are we trying to accomplish? What is the future of Draw Near? We also wanted to welcome our hundreds of new listeners, share more of our lives with everyone and answer a couple of common questions we hear.

  • Fr. Stu: A Story of Mercy

    April 27th, 2022  |  40 mins 17 secs
    catholic, father stu, movie, podcast, review

    Yay of nay on Father Stu? With a recent Catholic movie hitting theaters, we thought we would throw our voices in the mix on whether it is worth watching.