Send us a text In a world filled with noise, confusion, and endless opinions, how do you stay grounded in what’s truly true? In this conversation with writer and podcaster Laura K. Beck, we explore how returning to Scripture transforms not only our minds—but our hearts, homes, and everyday lives. Laura shares how she went from lukewarm faith to living with passion and peace rooted in God’s Word. Together, we talk about: How to begin reading the Bible without feeling overwhelmedPra...

Send us a text Do you ever feel like you’re walking your faith journey alone? Maybe you long for Catholic friendships that lift you up, or a community where you can grow spiritually and be yourself. In a world that often feels disconnected and fast-paced, finding real faith-filled friendship can feel impossible—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, author and Catholic creative Amy Brooks, founder of Prayer, Wine, and Chocolate, talks about how to bui...

Send us a text Have you been through suffering that’s left your heart questioning where God is in it all—or you long for prayer to feel like a place of healing, not obligation? You’re not alone in that longing, and the wisdom of the saints—especially St. Catherine of Siena—has something powerful to say about it. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, writer, speaker, and spiritual mentor Jenny duBay joins us to explore how to find healing, peace, and renewal through surrender. Drawing...

Send us a text What if your body could become a vessel of prayer—an instrument through which you encounter God in every breath, stretch, and step? In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, Director of Evangelization and SoulCore Regional Ambassador Nicky Verna joins me to explore the power of movement as prayer—how uniting your body and soul can draw you closer to Christ. Nicky shares her personal story of encountering God through suffering, the inspiration behind her SoulCore ministry,...

Send us a text Have you ever wondered how to hold on to faith when life feels dark, lonely, or unfair? Maybe you’ve faced suffering that left you asking, Where is God in this? The story of Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, a man who chose love and joy in the midst of imprisonment, offers a powerful answer. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, Elisabeth Nguyen Thi Thu Hong shares the extraordinary story of her brother, Cardinal Van Thuan—who spent 13 years in a communist prison...

Send us a text What if some of the burdens you’re carrying were never meant to be yours in the first place? Do you ever feel weighed down by responsibilities, expectations, or guilt, wondering if this is really the cross God asked you to carry? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to keep carrying what was never yours. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, Grace Abruzzo joins us again to unpack what it really means to “carry your cross” as a Christian. We talk about how to: Dis...

Send us a text What can a woman who lived over 200 years ago teach us about faith, courage, and finding God’s will in the middle of real-life struggles? Today, we are diving into the life of the first American-born Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, Sister Betty Ann McNeil—one of the leading scholars on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton—joins us to explore the saint’s life as a wife, mother, widow, convert, and founder. We’ll uncover how Elizabeth Ann Seton f...

Send us a text Have you experienced the constant pressure to do more? You know those moments when the laundry is piled high, your inbox is overflowing, and the people that you love need you, and you keep saying yes, and each one feels a little bit heavier than the last. Sometimes we don't even realize it until there's so much on us that we feel paralyzed and overwhelmed, yet can't seem to stop saying yes to everyone else. Remember that you always have a choice, and part of that choice is...

Send us a text Do you ever feel like your prayer life is stuck or wonder if you’re truly growing spiritually? In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, Catholic author, mentor, and speaker Julie Onderko is back on the podcast to talk about the real journey of prayer, growth, and intimacy with God. Together, we dive into the seasons of life, the power of mental prayer, and how to live with intention and purpose when the world feels noisy and overwhelming. Julie shares practical ways t...

Send us a text What if the promises of freedom our culture keeps offering are actually making us lonelier, more restless, and less fulfilled? In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, we dig into the hidden costs of the sexual revolution and explore what true freedom in Christ really looks like. I’m joined by Nathanael Blake, fellow at the Ethics & Public Policy Center and author of Victims of the Revolution: How Sexual Liberation Hurts Us All. Together, we uncover the truth about the ...

Send us a text When life doesn’t unfold the way we hoped, trusting God can feel almost impossible. We’ve all faced moments like these when our dreams don’t unfold the way we imagined. And you feel caught in the tension between wanting to trust and wondering if God is really that good. And yes, I know that it's hard to admit. If you've ever wrestled with control, struggled to connect with God the Father, or found yourself in a season where prayer feels more like waiting than receiving,...

Send us a text What does it look like to live your Catholic faith in a workplace that doesn’t always share your values? What happens when the bravest thing you can do isn't rushing into a burning building, but standing firm in your convictions in a culture that demands compromise? In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, Benjamin O'Brien, a career firefighter and the author of The Proving Grounds: A Catholic on Ladder 17, talks about what it means to be a Catholic in a culture that is not ...

Send us a text Have you ever felt like your life took a turn you didn't plan, and you're holding tight to what you thought that life would be? You're grieving the gap between the ideal and your reality. Maybe you're wondering, "Can joy really exist in this season of crazy chaos where my circumstances feel so utterly unfair?" If that's you, then I want you to take a deep breath and listen to today's episode because we are talking about a surrender that makes you stronger. An embracing of th...

Send us a text You follow the to-do list, you care deeply, and you want to do this season in life well. But there's still this quiet pressure that's building underneath it all. The unspoken fear of letting people down. The tension between being productive and being present with the people around you. The weight of doing more. When what you really long for is to simply rest. To be. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, we're joined by my dear friend Nikki D'Souza, a Catholic educator an...

Send us a text You wake up early to pray, but your mind won't settle. You open your Bible, but the words feel distant and deep down you wonder "why do I still feel so far from God?" It's easy to stay busy even in prayer, but what if the noise isn't around you? It's actually inside you. Today's conversation is a gentle invitation into silence. A silence that is not just the absence of sound. But the kind of stillness that brings your soul a little bit closer to the Lord. In this episo...

Send us a text Have you ever looked around at your busy life, your job, your family, your faith, and thought, "Why does it still feel like something's missing?" You're doing all of the things, but still feel restless, still feel stuck, as if you're yearning for something more. Today, we're digging into that feeling. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, we're joined by Karla Fitz, a Catholic life and business coach, who invites women to realign their inner desires with God's plan, thr...

Send us a text Have you ever taken a nap, hoping to feel refreshed, but woke up feeling even worse than before? Or wondered why you still feel burned out even when you're technically getting enough sleep? Today, we are rethinking rest because it's not just about closing your eyes or checking out. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, I am joined by Heather Macowicz, a Catholic spiritual director, retreat leader, founder of Peak Encounter Ministries, and author of Peak Encounters: A Spi...

Send us a text Have you ever thought that sainthood was just for the super holy, the mystics, the martyrs, or the people who just have more time than you do? Because let's be honest, time feels scarce. What if holiness isn't out of reach, but right in front of you? Today, we're flipping the script on perfectionism and reclaiming the truth that sanctity is not about getting it all right. It's about getting back up and keeping your eyes on Jesus. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, I a...

Send us a text Have you ever looked at your life, your messy living room, your emotional exhaustion, the chaos of your schedule, and thought, this does not look like the holy life that I imagined? If so, you are not alone. Today's conversation is for you, my friend, who is trying to live your faith deeply, but feels like you're failing at the ideal. In this episode of Persistence in Prayer, author and mother Christine Hanus shares how the ideals of Catholic motherhood often collide with ex...

Send us a text Have you ever taken a personality test and thought, "This is exciting! Now what?" So you printed your results, threw them in a folder, and forgot about them until right now. Well, if that's you, you're not alone. In today's episode of Persistence in Prayer, I'm joined by a dear friend, Linda Delia, who is a Catholic coach and spiritual companion. She is going to help us understand what to do with those results once we get them, specifically, the Clifton Strengths Framework.&n...