In this pilot episode of Season 5 of the Real+True Podcast, Edmund Mitchell shares a practical masterclass on how to unlock the entire faith through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Most Catholics experience the faith like a “bag of disconnected beads” (random doctrines, books, videos, and quotes floating around). But master evangelists and catechists think differently: they see how the entire faith fits together simply.

If you’ve ever felt like Catholic teaching is just a “bag of disconnected facts,” this episode gives you the mental frameworks to see how everything fits together.

You’ll learn frameworks and simple navigation “power tools” inside the Catechism, so you can actually find what you need and understand how it all fits together...for life.

In this masterclass, you’ll learn:

• What a catechism actually is (and what it’s trying to do)
• Why the Catechism of the Catholic Church is uniquely special
• 4 keys that make the whole thing click
• The “golden thread” that helps you connect any doctrine back to Jesus
• The 4 pillars of the Catechism and how to navigate it fast
• Common misconceptions + quick tips
• Homework to help you start today (yes, actual paragraph numbers)

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 Masterclass Intro

00:00:40 Faith: what most people get wrong

00:01:30 What master evangelists do differently

00:02:12 What we’ll cover today

00:04:00 What is a catechism?

00:09:30 Why is this catechism special?

00:17:00 4 keys to unlock the catechism

00:17:30 Key #1: Christ at the center (Christocentric)

00:19:00 Key #2: The faith as a symphony (everything connects)

00:20:30 The golden thread (Trinity → human person → Jesus → Church)

00:21:30 Key #3: The authoritative summary (not opinion)

00:23:00 Key #4: The structure is a lesson (the 4 pillars)

00:28:30 The 4 pillars of the Catechism (and why they matter)

00:35:30 Navigating the Catechism (paragraphs, cross-references, “In Brief,” indexes)

00:40:30 Common misconceptions and quick tips

00:43:00 Suggested homework (CCC 457–460)

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👇 ABOUT US 👇

We believe the Catechism is not a textbook, a collection of ideas, or a set of rules. We believe it is the faithful echo of a God who desires to reveal himself to us. The mission of Real+True is to retransform the Catechism into a living voice for the modern world. We’re creating videos, stories, animations, podcasts, to unpack and unlock the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the modern world. All these videos are free, and translated into multiple languages for the world.

Real+True is a project of OSV under the patronage of the Holy See and supported by people who join our mission.

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this heartfelt episode, Edmund, Emily, and special guest Edmundo Reyes reflect on the final paragraphs of the Catechism and five transformative years of Real+True. They explore the deeper meaning of the word “Amen” and how it connects us to Mary’s fiat, the heart of evangelization, and the ongoing mission of the Church. With touching personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and a look ahead at exciting new projects (including a new podcast series!), this episode is both a celebration of the past and an exciting look into the future. (We also want to thank another surprise special guest, JP Talty, for joining us later in the episode!

00:00

Edmund, Emily, and Edmundo reflect on the final Catechism paragraphs, focusing on the word “Amen” and its connection to Mary’s fiat. Emily shares a personal story about teaching her niece to say Amen, emphasizing how this small word carries deep spiritual meaning.

10:09

The team shares how Real+True was never about just making content—it was about mission. They reflect on the project's early vision, earning the patronage of the Holy See, and what they’ve learned through collaboration, creativity, and evangelizing catechesis.

19:05

The team shares favorite moments from the project, including a young viewer’s testimony about unlocking the graces of Confirmation and Edmund’s emotional experience hearing how his love for analogies helped others teach the faith. They also reflect on receiving Vatican recognition, the global impact of making the videos free, and Emily’s upcoming debut as a parish catechist using Real+True resources.

28:19

The team reflects on the personal impact of the project and its contributors. Edmund and Edmundo announce Phase 2: a new podcast and book series to help connect the Catechism to real-life topics, with Edmund working on a guide for catechists and everyday Catholics.

37:43

The team wraps up with gratitude — reflecting on the community behind Real+True and the personal transformations it sparked, inviting listeners to stay tuned for the next exciting phase.

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

00:00 Emily and Edmund kick off the episode by introducing the sixth and seventh petitions: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil”. They explore how modern generations oscillate between moral relativism and hyper-vigilance about right and wrong, despite many still praying regularly. This sets the stage for examining how the Catechism helps us discern objective morality amid today’s shifting cultural views.

08:08 Edmund and Emily show how over-intellectualizing the Faith led to two extremes, either thinking we can resist temptation on our own (Pelagianism) or feeling powerless without special election (Jansenism). These often show up today as indifference or scrupulosity. They unpack the Greek roots of “lead us not into temptation,” noting it means both “don’t let us enter” and “don’t let us yield,” and encourage praying for God’s help to trust His will and avoid yielding to temptation.

15:46 Edmund and Emily emphasize that temptation isn’t sinful, only yielding to it is. They encourage humility and reliance on God’s grace instead of shame. Using everyday examples like marital frustrations over an unloaded dishwasher, they show how praying for virtues (e.g., patience) can help in the midst of temptation. They highlight the Catechism’s wisdom on discernment, distinguishing growth-forming trials from temptations that lead to sin and discuss the importance of avoiding both indifference and scrupulosity.

22:15 Edmund and Emily illustrate how charity and community can justly take precedence over strict observance, reminding us that relationship trumps anxious rule-keeping. They stress discernment in distinguishing between trials and temptations. The motto: “rules without relationship lead to rebellion,” highlights the heart’s posture in prayer.

28:05 Edmund and Emily wrap up with practical tips for catechists: integrate the Ten Commandments into prayer by guiding an examination of conscience that moves beyond a checklist to a heartfelt dialogue with God. They stress honest, heart-level prayer and bringing specific struggles before Jesus, asking for grace so that doctrine informs our lived encounter, not just intellectual assent.

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.