Leisure Is Worship — The Catholic Case for Rest ft. Dr. Tim White

Leisure Is Worship — The Catholic Case for Rest ft. Dr. Tim White

June 30, 2026 · 48 min · Episode 143

About this episode

In this episode, Adam Cross and Dr. Tim White discuss the importance of leisure and rest in a productivity-driven culture, emphasizing its theological and psychological significance.

What if the grind isn't the path to freedom — it's the thing keeping you from it? In this episode, Catholic therapist Adam Cross, LMFT (#116623) sits down with Dr. Tim White — psychology professor, researcher, and self-proclaimed workaholic — to explore what it actually means to rest in a culture that has forgotten how. Drawing on the theology of the 8th day of creation, Joseph Pieper's Leisure: The Basis of Culture, and the latest research in psychology and blue zone longevity, Adam and Tim make the case that leisure isn't a reward you earn through hard work. It's the foundation everything else is built on — including worship. Topics covered:• Why "work will set you free" is a lie from Auschwitz to Silicon Valley• The Genesis story and what was lost — and restored — through Christ• What real rest looks like (hint: it's not Netflix or a beach vacation)• Flow states, play, and why winners in sports look completely incoherent• Mindfulness with God as a secure attachment figure• "The opposite of sin is not virtue but praise" — and what that means practically• Blue zones, enjoyment, and why leisure-centred living actually helps you live longer• Practical steps for stepping out of the…

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