Episode #35 feat. Joe Grilliot

What happens when a Catholic priest steps away from his vocation, moves to the cornfields of Ohio, and seeks out a new kind of spiritual initiation?

In this thirty-fifth episode of Follow Me to the M-R-O-P!, host Brian Mueller sits down with Joe Grilliot to discuss his June 2025 initiation at Osprey Wilds in Sandstone, Minnesota. Joe, a former priest turned farmer, shares his journey of navigating a major life transition—from ministry to marriage, fatherhood, and farming—and why he sought out the rites to make an intentional transition into true manhood.

Episode Highlights

• Ticks as Teachers: Joe recounts his solo time in the wilderness, where avoiding ticks and mosquitoes taught him how to push through his fear with humor.
• A Unique Crossroads: The massive life transition that brought Joe to the rites: leaving the priesthood, getting married, having a son during COVID, and becoming a farmer in Ohio.
• The Ritual Bond: The powerful, immediate connection Joe formed with his partner, John, during their very first ritual on Friday night.
• A Broader Sacramentality: How Joe's background as a Catholic priest influenced his experience, and how the rites helped him realize God's presence extends far beyond specific words and rituals.
• Fatherhood and the Live Edge: Joe's ongoing work to manage his anger—a trait inherited from his own father on the farm—so he can be a healthier, safer presence for his young son.

Links & Resources

• Brian Mueller (Host)
• BriansPoems.com
• Illuman MROP
• Choosing Presence (Sponsor)
• Practicing Presence App
• The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr
• Adam's Return by Richard Rohr
• Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr
• Trust Stillness by Brian Mueller

Credits

• First and foremost, thank you to Joe Grilliot for sharing his journey and his heart with us today.
• Thank you to Fr. Richard Rohr and the men of Illuman who have stewarded the Men’s Rites of Passage since 1996.
• Thank you to Jim Heaney and Jim Taylor for their dedication to Choosing Presence.

Music Credits:

• Slow Mo Dreams by Soundroll
• Becoming a Legend by Vens Adams