Real Life. Real Faith. Real Conversations.
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Ex-Protestant Pastor shares why he became Catholic!
Sam Nunnally is the creator of It’s Okay to Be Catholic, where he helps people online understand Catholic teaching through Scripture, Church history, and the writings of the early Church Fathers. His mission is to make the Catholic faith approachable for anyone sincerely seeking truth, and today he is joining us to discuss why being Catholic IS okay!
There’s a whole lotta misconceptions out there about the Catholic faith and Sam is here to encourage us and share the truth with us. As a former Protestant pastor, Sam addresses some of the biggest objections to Catholicism like prayer, sacrifice, and the Eucharist with compassion and sensitivity.
CHECK OUT MORE OF SAM’S CONTENT:
https://itsokaytobecatholic.org/ (https://itsokaytobecatholic.org/)
https://www.instagram.com/itsokaytobecatholic/ (https://www.instagram.com/itsokaytobecatholic/)
https://www.facebook.com/people/Its-Okay-to-be-Catholic/61575544535841/ (https://www.facebook.com/people/Its-Okay-to-be-Catholic/61575544535841/)
https://www.tiktok.com/@itsokaytobecatholic (https://www.tiktok.com/@itsokaytobecatholic?_t=ZT-90qb2EHt1Yr&_r=1)t=ZT-90qb2EHt1Yr& (https://www.tiktok.com/@itsokaytobecatholic?_t=ZT-90qb2EHt1Yr&_r=1)r=1 (https://www.tiktok.com/@itsokaytobecatholic?_t=ZT-90qb2EHt1Yr&_r=1)
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ALL MY PATREON "ELITE" MEMBERS GET ACCESS TO THE FULL EPISODE WITH SAM! UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO HEAR THE REST:
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You also get access to THE BOOK CLUB where we are currently reading JESUS AND THE JEWISH ROOTS OF THE EUCHARIST which you can get using the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385531869?linkCode=ssc&tag=hannahcrews0d-20&creativeASIN=0385531869&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2PB2I38GARM1E&ref_=aipsflist_asin (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385531869?linkCode=ssc&tag=hannahcrews0d-20&creativeASIN=0385531869&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2PB2I38GARM1E&ref_=aipsflist_asin)
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Chapters:
0:00 How “It’s Okay to Be Catholic” started
5:47 Discovering the early Church Fathers
11:04 Why Catholic theology made more sense
13:23 From Protestant pastor to Catholic
16:26 Mary, feminine imagery, and the Trinity
18:48 Authority, interpretation, and confession
22:29 Why confession matters biblically and spiritually
27:37 Prayer in Catholicism vs. Protestantism
32:23 Prayer vs. worship
35:41 What worship really means
37:46 Why it’s okay to be Catholic
38:11 What you don’t lose by becoming Catholic
13 Jul 2026
It’s Hard for Protestants to Convert to Catholicism. HERE’S WHY!
Isn’t my shirt cute?! It’s from Santa Cruz - Elevated Catholic Apparel! Use promo code “Hannah15” for 15% off + free shipping! https://stcruz.co?sca_ref=11337915.TIlWY7IfAWKHL (https://stcruz.co?sca_ref=11337915.TIlWY7IfAWKHL)
Most Protestants avoid exploring the deep history of Christianity because confronting its roots can feel like an identity crisis. And yet, the truth might be more sacred than you ever imagined. In this episode, I’m sharing some personal things I experienced as I wrestled with the decision to become Catholic.
This episode isn't just a conversation; it's an invitation to challenge assumptions, shed pride, and consider whether rediscovering the original faith might be the missing piece in your spiritual journey. Whether you're curious or committed, you'll gain a new perspective on what it really means to follow Christ as the early Christians did… without the filters of centuries of misunderstanding.
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If you’re interested in learning more about the early church JOIN MY BOOK CLUB and online community on PATREON! Click the link below and become an “ELITE” member:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLightenUpPodcast/membership (https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLightenUpPodcast/membership)
We are currently reading JESUS AND THE JEWISH ROOTS OF THE EUCHARIST which you can get using the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385531869?linkCode=ssc&tag=hannahcrews0d-20&creativeASIN=0385531869&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2PB2I38GARM1E&ref_=aipsflist_asin (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385531869?linkCode=ssc&tag=hannahcrews0d-20&creativeASIN=0385531869&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2PB2I38GARM1E&ref_=aipsflist_asin)
CHECK OUT CHRISTIAN HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES:
A HEALTH INSURANCE ALTERNATIVE AT HALF THE COST
https://info.chministries.org/hannah-crews?utm_campaign=infl_hannahcrews&utm_source=hannahcrews&utm_medium=hannahcrews_vanityurl_august2025_hannahcrewslandingpage&utm_content=info-pack (https://info.chministries.org/hannah-crews?utm_campaign=infl_hannahcrews&utm_source=hannahcrews&utm_medium=hannahcrews_vanityurl_august2025_hannahcrewslandingpage&utm_content=info-pack)
FOLLOW ON SOCIALS TO STAY IN THE LIGHTEN UP LOOP:
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Chapters:
00:00 The Impact of Reformation and Denominational Splintering
04:14 Misconceptions About Catholic Beliefs and Practices
08:55 Letting Go of Familiar Traditions and Comfort Zones
11:12 Overcoming the Fear of Being Wrong
13:14 Encouragement for Protestants to Explore Catholicism
6 Jul 2026
The Role of Women in the Catholic Church with Anna Sutton
Anna Sutton, one of the co-host of The Catholic Everywoman Podcast, joins us to explore one of the most debated questions in modern Christianity: what is the role of women in the Church?🤔
Anna shares her personal journey from a non-denominational evangelical upbringing to Catholicism, explaining how her conversion shaped her understanding of Scripture, the sacraments, Mary, and the papacy. We discuss the Southern Baptist Convention’s stance on women pastors, why so many Protestant women feel boxed in, and how the Catholic Church offers a different vision—one that honors women’s gifts without flattening them into a single role.
FOREWARNING❗️we also get a little PG-13 and talk about motherhood, marriage, fertility, and Natural Family Planning in this episode.
If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about faith, womanhood, Church authority, or where truth is found, this episode offers an honest and encouraging conversation you won’t want to miss!
CHECK OUT THE CATHOLIC EVERYWOMAN PODCAST:
https://thecatholiceverywoman.substack.com/ (https://thecatholiceverywoman.substack.com/)
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-catholic-everywoman/id1896056184 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-catholic-everywoman/id1896056184)
https://www.youtube.com/@thecatholiceverywoman (https://www.youtube.com/@thecatholiceverywoman)
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If you’re interested in learning more about the early church JOIN MY BOOK CLUB and online community on PATREON! Click the link below and become an “ELITE” member:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLightenUpPodcast/membership (https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheLightenUpPodcast/membership)
We are currently reading JESUS AND THE JEWISH ROOTS OF THE EUCHARIST which you can get using the link below:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385531869?linkCode=ssc&tag=hannahcrews0d-20&creativeASIN=0385531869&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2PB2I38GARM1E&ref_=aipsflist_asin (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385531869?linkCode=ssc&tag=hannahcrews0d-20&creativeASIN=0385531869&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.2PB2I38GARM1E&ref_=aipsflist_asin)
CHECK OUT CHRISTIAN HEALTHCARE MINISTRIES:
A HEALTH INSURANCE ALTERNATIVE AT HALF THE COST
https://info.chministries.org/hannah-crews?utm_campaign=infl_hannahcrews&utm_source=hannahcrews&utm_medium=hannahcrews_vanityurl_august2025_hannahcrewslandingpage&utm_content=info-pack (https://info.chministries.org/hannah-crews?utm_campaign=infl_hannahcrews&utm_source=hannahcrews&utm_medium=hannahcrews_vanityurl_august2025_hannahcrewslandingpage&utm_content=info-pack)
FOLLOW ON SOCIALS TO STAY IN THE LIGHTEN UP LOOP:
Subscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Hannahcrewsblog (https://www.youtube.com/@Hannahcrewsblog)
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thelightenup.podcast/ (https://www.instagram.com/thelightenup.podcast/)
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Follow on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lighten-up-with-hannah-crews/id1874136088 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lighten-up-with-hannah-crews/id1874136088)
Chapters
00:00 Anna’s Catholic Conversion Story
09:16 The Impact of the Sacraments on Marriage
12:15 Why Only Men are Priests
14:06 The SBC’s Controversial Statement on Women Preaching
18:29 Roles for Women in the Catholic Church
22:36 Wrestling with the Truth of Catholicism as a Protestant
27:39 Choosing Catholicism Over Orthodoxy
33:00 Trust in Catholic Teachings
36:09 Motherhood and Contraception
40:52 Understanding Natural Family Planning
45:40 The Gift of Life and Children
48:54 The Catholic Everywoman Podcast
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