Called and Caffeinated

There are a million parenting advice books, homeschooling books, how-to's on organizing, and spiritual books. Much, much more rare is a book helping us parents know when to work and when to put your feet up, how to make your marriage last with boisterous youngsters claiming your every ounce of energy, how to form a philosophy for educating your children, and how to keep one million tasks in balanc...

Anyone else totally lose steam at this point in Lent? It's not Holy Week yet and the "smells and bells" of special liturgies haven't arrived. And TBH I'm busy and the excitement of growth at the outset of Ash Wednesday wore off weeks ago. If you're like me, you will absolutely LOVE my interview with the inimitable Dr. Scott Hahn. There's so much more to fasting than giving up: It will increase our...

VIEW ON YOUTUBE HERE "God does not reject the places even we reject within ourselves." I've never thought of Lent as a time for healing, but my conversation with Sr. Miriam James Heidland changed that. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving: the purpose of these is not to do them for their own sake, but in order to enter into the desert with the Lord. To let him heal the places that most hurt us. If that...

WATCH ON YOUTUBE HERE! “If you do not know how to feast, you do not know how to feast.” -GK Chesterton Not gonna lie… as a teen I usually weighed my Lenten resolution options against how good I’d look in a swimsuit by Easter. To be honest, I never “got” fasting. I still don’t know if I do, but this year I’ve received a few great new books that completely transformed my outlook on Lent and fasting...

My dad had aggressive cancer in 2019 that almost killed him. Watching him go through chemo was an extremely intense experience for my whole family. When I heard about Sr. Diana Marie's mission of dedicating her life to caring for terminally ill cancer patients, my first reaction was "How do you DO that?" Not only does she spend her days loving people in their last days, but she's also young, full...

Did you know C&C is a YouTube show too? Watch here! We discuss the following saints and their virtues: Faith exemplified by St. Bassa Courage exemplified by St. Perpetua Forgiveness and mercy exemplified by St. Gladys Perseverance exemplified by St. Theneva Detachment exemplified by St. Frances of Rome Generosity exemplified by Bl. Marianna Biernacka Resources Kelly’s website  (Purchase Saintly Mo...

Watch on YouTube here! Well, well, well. My husband John actually asked to come up with the ideas for this episode and I was like 'YES thank you honey.' I always feared as a single person that my husband and I would fall out of love and out of like, and 5 years in, I'm happy to report we're more into each other than when we got married! We're sharing today our top tips for maintaining a healthy ma...

The Holy Spirit is... a dove?? Anyone else feel like the third Person of the Blessed Trinity is just a little inaccessible the way he's usually described?    He's so much more than that. In fact, the Holy Spirit is no less than the ACTUAL antidote to literally everything wrong in the world. A relationship with the Holy Spirit is essential to good discernment, and if you don't know how to get start...

WATCH ON YOUTUBE HERE Faith helps us get through challenges, yes, but when we have extended trials that press on us we can sometimes falter and lose heart. If we can’t hear God speak or feel his comfort, It can leave us questioning “why has God abandoned me? Where was he when I needed him? Does he really love me if he’s letting me go through this?” I experienced all those things in the trauma and...

So things are opening up again (Yay!) And suddenly you're back to juggling a busy schedule and your prayer life is slipping. You're not alone. In this episode I'm answering a question from Julie who's feeling frustrated by her lack of ability to maintain the 4-times-daily structure to her prayer life she had in quarantine. I'll be discussing: The #1 obstacle in your spiritual life (it's NOT falter...

Watch on YouTube here!  Show Notes Day after day, as I tearfully left my baby and away from the NICU, I would cry out to God, “how much longer?” It’s hard to believe that Nora was only in the hospital 126 days. It felt like 126 years. Why do the deserts of our lives feel so long, and what do you do when your faith begins to waver? Are you supposed to just get through it, or can you learn something...

I got a note from Kim asking how to keep trusting God in her season of very extended singlehood. I sympathize 1000% with the struggle but I also FIRMLY believe no one has to stay in a place of sadness, loneliness, and scarcity.  Topics Discussed My 3 hopes for anyone struggling with singlehood 3 strategies for achieving and living those hopes Resources Emily Stimpson Chapmans episode on the Called...

You know when a woman walks by who looks absolutely fabulous and confident? Is that woman you, or do you wish you could feel more comfortable in your own skin? Until recently, I was the latter. Between years of self-image issues, changing shape constantly from three pregnancies in five years, and hanging on to hand-me-downs I don't like because I feel guilty giving away free stuff, I've rarely fel...

You know when a woman walks by who looks absolutely fabulous and confident? Is that woman you, or do you wish you could feel more comfortable in your own skin? Until recently, I was the latter. Between years of self-image issues, changing shape constantly from three pregnancies in five years, and hanging on to hand-me-downs I don't like because I feel guilty giving away free stuff, I've rarely fel...

The Nakanes couldn't believe it when they discovered a personality typing system that maps not only to reality, but also to scripture! It's not just a fun Facebook quiz; this system is a powerful key to understanding the Triune God, the personality you were given, other people, motivations, and free will. Brennen and Audra Nakane have been researching, developing, and writing about Nakane CAPS for...

Never be overwhelmed by discerning religious life again! In this Q&A episode, follow this simple method to narrow down your search from the entire universe to the communities you're going to visit in person. Questions for journaling included in this episode: Do I see myself in a cloistered or an active community? Why? Is wearing a habit as part of religious life important to me? Why? Do I want to...

“Listening with a capital L is the secret to life, the secret to love, because you can’t love what you don’t understand, and you can only understand if you listen.” What if it were your actual job to contemplate? To perceive deeply? That’s how Dony MacManus sees his calling as an artist. He spent three weeks just drawing Michaelangelo’s Pieta, and he shares how that experience healed and changed h...

A little while back I got a message from Kathryn who’s struggling to surrender to God’s will for vocation, career, and living situation. She wrote, “Every time I surrender what I want to God I just get sad, like I’m giving up. How can I surrender my desires God when I don’t even think he cares, when I don’t think he wants to give me what I want?” My heart went out to Kathryn and I knew right away...

“The Holy Spirit is moving now- he doesn’t want to wait five years until you’ve got your life together.” It was my honor to share a beverage with the incredibly down-to-earth and inspiring gal pal Ali Hoffman. From discussing grieving your dreams to awkward parties and how to host them, Ali and I are your cheerleaders in living out today well, whatever God's calling you to right now. Show Notes Fi...

Life is mushy. It’s exhausting living in the gray. That’s why tuning into our inner compass- conscience- and learning what the voice of the Holy Spirit sounds like, are vital in discerning everyday decisions. God doesn’t care what color shoes we choose. But many small decisions are important because they add up to the big moments. The more we’re attuned to the ‘quickening’ of the Holy Spirit, the...

It's been the wildest ride of our lives. At publishing time we're on day 93 in the NICU. John and I took listener questions and I think this episode will speak to anyone going through a hard time. Topics Discussed How have John and I supported each other? How have we reconciled the human negative emotions with being a faithful Christian? How do we deal with the vulnerability of the situation aroun...

“People will listen to whoever steps in front of the mic. Why aren’t we proclaiming the Gospel? There’s people who are hungry and thirsty, who want to be spoken words of truth. It takes boldness, courage, and a certain humility to step in front of the crowd and share what’s on your heart.” This episode is several seemingly opposite things- half my super vulnerable struggles with my premature daugh...

“We have nothing to prove and everything to share.” Anyone else feel simultaneously like the weird Catholic in their artist’s circle, and also the weird artist in their Catholic circle? I firmly believe people of faith are called to creativity. One of my most commonly asked questions is, “How did you keep your faith during your Broadway career?” I knew immediately I wanted to record an episode on...

“You might have talents that are weird, like maybe you could work in the Yankee Candle lab to find what scents best induce Christmas cheer. And if you have the best nose, then I say get after it! Get after the candles!” When I was a kid, I got sculpey clay one Christmas. Sculpting became one of my fun little childhood hobbies. In high school, my mom found a book at the library on making clay caric...

This year I’ve been shadowbanned for being pro-life. I've received dozens of the nastiest comments attempting to shame and insult me for being a conservative and a Catholic. It got me thinking of my visit to Rome a few years ago when I visited the Church of Santo Stephano Rotondo. 34 gory, stomach-turning murals line the walls depicting the most unpleasant torture and death of early Christians. Af...