The first episode of Rebeldes Podcast, a new show on the Se buscan Rebeldes channel   dedicated to sharing—without pretense or masks—the beauty of the Catholic faith,  was recorded at the CEU School of Communication studios.  Host Ignacio spoke with two exceptional guests: Fray Marcos, a Dominican friar, passionate cook, and known for his appearance on MasterChef, and  Don Pablo López, head of Young Catholics at the Hallow app.

The podcast was born from a clear premise: it’s not a rigid interview or a platform for delivering moral lessons from a pedestal, but rather a vulnerable, authentic, and engaging conversation. As Ignacio explained, faith is transmitted above all  through healthy envy, through attraction, as Saint Paul VI and Pope Francis repeatedly emphasized. The objective is twofold: to offer  a living witness  and to share the rich intellectual and spiritual tradition of the Church.

“To light the burner of the heart”

Brother Marcos opened the fire (literally) in his usual fiery style: “Since everything in my life revolves around the stove… this podcast is to ignite the soul’s fire, the heart of many who are cold.” He compared the format to preheating the oven before baking a cake: you have to strike the match to ignite  the fire of the Holy Spirit. In a society where saying “I am Catholic and I practice my faith” is already an act of courage and rebellion, the podcast aims to invite listeners to be  rebels against God.

Don Pablo emphasized the need for authenticity in a world of posturing and likes: “This podcast can help people discover something much greater than what’s on the outside.” He considers this especially important now, after the canonization of Carlo Acutis, who insisted on being original and not a copycat.

Being Catholic Today: Young People, Ideals, and Real Dangers

The three discussed what it means to be Catholic in the 21st century, especially for young people. They agreed on seeing many positive aspects:

• Greater authenticity and realism when talking about what they experience.
• Great solidarity and a desire to change the world.
• Enthusiasm and great ideals that are often discouraged by older people.

However, they warned of serious dangers:

• Anxiety, depression, and high suicide rates among young people.
• Lack of in-depth meaning (“I don’t know why I get up every morning”).
• Massive loneliness (5 million people live alone in Spain, and the number is growing).
• Social media addiction, immediacy, and rejection of the maturation process (cross).

Brother Marcos recounted a moving personal testimony: a 25-year-old model and athlete arrived at his convent in tears after being diagnosed with cancer and HIV. What was heartbreaking wasn’t the illness itself, but what he told him: “I didn’t come here for you to tell me there’s a cure or antiretrovirals… I came because I saw you on television, and I want you to help me recover my faith.”

That meeting made it clear that  many young people are not primarily seeking physical healing, but rather to regain hope and meaning.

Happiness: the Christian’s “gigantic secret”

One of the central themes revolved around happiness. Ignacio recalled Chesterton: happiness is the secret of Christianity. Jesus doesn’t propose a dry moral code, but rather the most realistic and profound path to true joy.

Three major modern deceptions were identified (echoing the three temptations of Jesus in the desert and the Thomistic tradition):

1. Believing that happiness lies in  money/power.
2. To think that it is in the  immediate pleasure  and comfortable life without cross.
3. Look for it in  honor, fame, or likes.

The Christian response is paradoxical: “Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will find it” (Mark 8:35). True joy (gaudium et spes) is born from  allowing oneself to be loved by God  and spending one’s life loving others.

Uncomfortable questions and a sincere testimony

The episode closed with direct questions from the audience:

• What do you think of celibacy?  Both see it as a  gift and a freedom, not as an imposition. Brother Marcos: “It’s a choice made with complete freedom.” Don Pablo: “It makes you more available for whatever God asks of you each day.”
• Do you feel lonely?  Don Pablo acknowledges that he lives surrounded by people (with his parents), but Fray Marcos distinguishes between  being alone  (which can be fruitful) and  knowing oneself to be alone  (a deeper pathology).
• A confessional secret no one talks about. All three agreed: confession is the sacrament of joy. Many people leave saying, “You have no idea what a weight has been lifted from my shoulders,” or simply, “I’m so happy,” but they don’t talk about it because they don’t know how to explain it.
• What would you say to yourself at 16?  Brother Marcos: “Don’t be afraid… go with fear, but go.”

The podcast ended with an open invitation: comment on what you liked, what you’d like to talk about, who to invite… and share it. Because, as they repeated several times, it is Jesus you seek when you dream of happiness.

May this first episode of  Rebels be just the beginning of many conversations that help to ignite—or rekindle—the fire in many hearts.