When you hear the word “addiction”, what typically comes to mind? Needles? Alcohol? Pills? As Jim Owens, MA, LPC explains, addiction is much simpler, including everything from substances to technology, screen time, work, shopping, and even sugar. Addictions and distractions are used to manage pain—but in the process, end up damaging our brains, our relationships, and our ability to find lasting happiness. Jim gives scientific evidence and practical advice for overcoming wounds, to help hurt people become healed people. At the conclusion of this talk, you will also be able to hear a bonus sample of the CD: Know Your Story: The Love God in the Narrative of Your Life by Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT.

Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, reveals the urgency to live and share the powerful message of Divine Mercy. He explains the basics of the Divine Mercy feast, image, novena, chaplet, and hour of mercy, and how to incorporate them into your spiritual life.

As a third generation Jehovah’s Witness, Mary Kochan was fully immersed in their activities until adulthood. She offers an insider’s view about what life is like for Jehovah’s Witnesses and what is most likely to help them come to the fullness of truth about Jesus Christ.

People love stories. But when we lose sight of where the story of our life is going, the “narrative” and meaning of our lives becomes confusing to us, and we can lose hope. In this dynamic talk, Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, renews our sense of hope and wonder (and humor), revealing that the reason we love stories is that we are part of a good story; one that answers the deepest desires and longings of our hearts. Whatever chapter our lives are in, God can transform our story, so that we can know and experience the beauty, adventure, and love for which we were created.

Being a professional athlete isn’t easy. And sometimes, having and keeping the faith can be just as difficult. Taylor Kemp, a retired professional soccer player for the DC United and US Men’s National teams, shares his story with us about how he came to learn and love God and how he navigated his faith in one of the toughest environments: sports. Taylor shares some of the lessons that he learned throughout his journey in hopes that it might help someone else’s spiritual life as well.

Femininity today can be confusing. What is it? What is it not? Are the stereotypes true? With humor, personal stories, and profound insights from the life of Mary and the writings of St. John Paul II, speaker Noelle Garcia shares how by growing in relationship with Mary, we can heal our understanding and relationships as women—daughters, mothers, friends, and wives—and discover the beauty, joy, and gift of true, God-given femininity.

Masculinity. In recent years, the use of this word has become controversial, and discussion about it unwelcome or silenced. Is all masculinity “toxic”? Dr. Tim Gray strongly asserts that while fallen masculinity does exist, authentic, God-given masculinity is a great virtue that is desperately needed in our world. Drawing on personal and cultural examples, Tim challenges men to face their fears about failing or "striking out," and encourages them to become the men they desire to be—loyal, dependable, and beloved friends, spouses, and fathers—in the image of Jesus Christ, the Perfect Man.

Why would an all-powerful, all-loving God allow suffering and evil in the world? As Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D. explains, unsatisfying answers to this important question are the #1 reason for atheism today. But by answering this question with logic and love (as well as with scientific, peer-reviewed evidence for the existence of life after death), we can not only answer this question truthfully and satisfactorily, but also teach our fellow Christians how to suffer well, in preparation for the limitless love of God that awaits us in eternity. This talk was recorded by FOCUS, at SEEK 2013. focus.org

Playwright. Poet. Actor. Catholic? Much has been studied and written about William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest and most famous author in the English language. With compelling detail and wit, Joseph Pearce outlines the objective, documented, and historical evidence that both Shakespeare and his family were practicing Roman Catholics, who persevered in professing and promoting the faith even in the midst of great persecution. The evidence is staggering, and illumines a remarkable cultural opportunity for evangelization in a "post-Christian" world.

Sister Bethany Madonna, vocations director for the Sisters of Life, shares how God not only wants us to know him, but also to give us the desires of our heart and gifts that bring purpose, meaning, and hope. She makes it clear that “receiving is the gift that we give” to the Lord and that he wants to be invited into every aspect of our lives. Speaking from her own life experience, Sister Bethany shows the importance of asking in order to receive all the Lord has in mind for us.

Fr. Mike Schmitz, one of the leading presenters in the Church today, speaks powerfully about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He makes clear the truth that Christ deeply loves and wants to encounter each of us as we are, with all our imperfections. Fr. Mike debunks the lies we often believe about not being good enough to approach Jesus, and he draws upon Scripture to explain rationally why we go to priests to encounter God’s mercy and forgiveness in Confession.

For Catholics, the Mass is entirely familiar, but often not well understood. Scripture scholar and well-known author Dr. Edward Sri takes listeners on a journey through the sacred liturgy that is sure to help Catholics experience the Mass more fully as the most powerful and important prayer of the Church. Dr. Sri examines the historical and biblical roots of the words, prayers, actions, and gestures contained within the Mass in order to arrive at a deeper understanding of their significance.

The Millennial Generation has grown to adulthood. Having experienced many of the conveniences and pitfalls of new technologies, social media, student loan debt, and adult life, millennials have also developed a genuine desire to do something great with their lives, but often don't know how to get there. As fellow millennial Paul J. Kim shares with great humor and insight, tackling life's big challenges and desires for vocation, career, and greatness can give powerful witness to God and the gift of life.

“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” These words uttered 2,000 years ago are echoed today. Join us as Dr. Tim Gray examines a few objections to the Church’s Eucharistic teaching and provides scriptural evidence for these objections. This apologetic helps us to give a reason for our faith and to gain a deeper insight into what it means to be Catholic and experience the true presence of God in the Eucharist.

Dr. Elizabeth Klein, theologian and millennial, with a special devotion to St. Augustine discusses the many reasons why Augustine should also be the patron saint of this generation. His teachings are as timely as ever as millennials today search for ways they can live out their vocation by way of his teachings and guidance.

Were the gospels really written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John or are the authors anonymous? Did the stories come to us through some sort of “telephone game” or by way of eye witnesses? It is vital to address the debate over anonymous gospels. If we don’t know who wrote the gospels, then how reliable are the stories written about Jesus? Can we look at the gospels as legitimate historical sources for the life, the death and the resurrection of Jesus?

In this empowering talk, Steve Ray shares what it means to be a Christian in today's world. By examining the lives and martyrdoms of the early Christians and understanding how they transformed the pagan Greco-Roman culture, Steve gives us a blueprint for the New Evangelization. Learn from early Christians how to swim upstream against the current culture and become a witness for Christ.

In a recent Pew survey, two-thirds of Catholics reported that they did not know or believe in the Church's teaching on the Eucharist. Diving into the writings of early doctors and fathers of the Church, and drawing upon his own experience as a scholar of history, practicing Catholic, and former Protestant, Dr. John Sehorn addresses the “mind-boggling” and difficult truth of Jesus' presence in the Blessed Sacrament. It is a truth that confronts us, challenges us, and is one of the greatest gifts that we will ever receive.

Throughout the Church's history there has been crisis and confusion over Church teaching. Today, there is crisis and confusion surrounding the Sacrament of Marriage. As Augustine Institute President and Professor Dr. Tim Gray explains, this crisis presents an immense opportunity, as it encourages us to explore and discover the depth of this mystery, described by Pope Benedict XVI as "a Gospel in itself". When lived faithfully and well, marriage serves as a bold witness to the love and saving power of God.

Has Scripture ever made you uncomfortable? Do you have questions or doubts about events in the Bible that seem difficult to explain? In this important talk, author and Augustine Institute professor Dr. Mark Giszczak illuminates "the dark passages of Scripture"— those biblical events of violence and suffering that may not seem compatible with a loving and merciful God. Dr. Giszczak explains how God's justice, mercy, and love are all wholly compatible in Scripture, and asserts the importance of reading these passages with faith, intelligence, and within the teaching of the Church.