Ever wonder what really happens behind the walls of a monastery?

In this week’s episode, I welcome back our favorite Benedictine monk with a surfboard, Fr. Augustine Wetta. We’re stepping into a hidden world that’s been quietly defying the noise and chaos of modern life for over 1,500 years with silence, prayer, community, and a whole lot of humility.

But don’t expect some dreamy fairy tale. This is real life behind the habit: petty arguments over pens, broken irons held together with the wrong glue, and golf cart joy rides. It’s raw, funny, and surprisingly relatable. Turns out, becoming a monk doesn’t make you perfect; it just means you’ve committed to growing in love.

00:00 Intro
6:24 Why Fr. Augustine became a monk
12:11 What Fr. Augustine discovered about himself in his 1st years as a monk
13:24 Why silence isn’t scary; it’s clarifying
14:44 The monastic trick to handling distractions during prayer
17:49 The unexpected joys of Monastic life
19:22 And... the surprisingly holy story of a broken iron
22:00 What monks fight about (spoiler: it’s hilariously petty and deeply human)
28:07 Why doing the dishes for someone who annoys you can be sanctifying
28:37 The power of apologizing even when you think you're right
32:22 Settlers of Catan and golf carts in the monastery!?
35:51 Three simple ways to make your house more monastic (yes, even with kids running around)
36:26 Deliberately lose your next argument

This episode reminded me that monastic life isn’t about escape, it’s about living with radical intentionality. And that’s something every one of us is called to, whether you’re in a habit or a hoodie.
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