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Rebel Saints: A Catholic Podcast for Restless Hearts

Okay, here’s the quick “how it started” vs. “how it’s going” rundown.

It all kicked off when I was a youth minister, scrambling to convince a room full of teenagers that following Jesus isn’t some dusty obligation. It’s the most radical, wonderfully weird adventure you can choose.

Fast-forward to now: by day, I’m a Catholic journalist at a newspaper, diving into the Church’s headlines. The inspiring moments, the tough ones, and all the very human stuff in between. But I needed more than bylines. I wanted a space to live the faith out loud, not just report on it, with you.

When I first heard that famous line from St. Augustine, it pierced my heart because it all made sense then: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

I believe that restlessness is a gift. It’s what keeps us from settling, from blending in. I don’t want to fit in anyway. I want to lean into the Gospel’s wild side: loving enemies, finding joy in chaos (even in 2026), and chasing holiness one messy step at a time.

No perfect-saint filters here. I’m Nicole. I'm a wife, mom, Catholic journalist, photographer. I fail plenty, but I keep showing up. If you’re tired of polished piety and ready to get real about being counter-cultural, honest, and a little rebellious in your faith, you’re home.

Let’s be rebel saints together.

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Rebel Saints: A Catholic Podcast for Restless Hearts

Where I’ve Been and Where We’re Headed

May 09, 2025 • Nicole Olea • Episode 16

0:00 | 7:46

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Nicole is back — not with a rebrand exactly, but something more like a pivot.

The Rebel Saints Podcast is no longer just for teens — it’s for anyone swimming upstream in a culture that doesn't understand why you still care about things like grace, sacrifice, and truth. It’s for Catholics (and maybe the Catholic-curious) who are trying to live an ancient faith in the middle of our contemporary world.

Expect stories, hard questions, strange saints, and the messiness of trying to be holy without pretending it’s easy.

This episode was written and produced by Nicole Olea

If you enjoyed this show, please leave a review or share it with a friend.

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