FATHER ROBERT SPITZER , S.J., Ph.D.

  I’ve been a guest at Jim Madrid’s dinner table more times than I can count—and I can tell you, with great joy and full confidence, no one makes pasta like Jim. Every time I visit, I jokingly—but sincerely—ask the same thing:
“Jim, please make your pasta.”
And every time, he delivers more than a meal—he delivers an experience of joy, family, and faith.

That same experience is what you’re holding in your hands now.

Meatballs and Mindset is more than a book. It’s Jim’s heart—served up with a ladle of wisdom, a dash of humor, and a generous helping of purpose. It is a celebration of the mindset that carried him through one of the most daunting journeys a person can face: surviving not just one, but two terminal cancer diagnoses—Stage 4 pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer.

Through it all, Jim never lost his flavor for life. In fact, he found something deeper. And in these pages, he invites you to do the same.

I’ve prayed for Jim often—especially during his battle with cancer. And every time I do, I include not only his healing, but his work. Because Jim doesn’t just inspire me—he inspires thousands. He mentors students, athletes, executives, and entire communities with a rare blend of bold truth and compassionate grace. His mindset work is transformative because it’s rooted in lived experience, tested by adversity, and grounded in a faith that never wavers.

What makes this book so powerful is that it doesn’t just tell you what mindset is—it shows you. Jim blends stories of struggle and success with practical insights that anyone can apply. And while the recipes that bring his Italian heritage to life won’t appear on these pages, they’re just a click away on the dedicated Meatballs and Mindsetwebsite—because, as Jim will tell you, life’s too short not to eat well, think clearly, and love deeply.

So, sit back. Let this book feed you—mind and spirit. Let it remind you that healing is possible. That joy is still available. That gratitude can live alongside hardship. And that purpose can be found in every plate, every prayer, and every new day.

Jim Madrid is more than a friend—he is a witness to the power of mindset, the beauty of faith, and the gift of giving yourself fully to others.

I thank God for him.
And after reading this book, I believe you will too.

With abiding faith and admiration,

Father Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D.  President, Magis Center of Reason and Faith
 Former President, Gonzaga University