This Whole Life

“Where there is no vision, the people perish." ~ Proverbs 29:18 Why do my spouse and I fight over such trivial things? How can we be more connected in our marriage? How do we create a vision of hope for our family? In episode 89 of This Whole Life , hosts Kenna & Pat Millea welcome Mike & Alicia Hernon, founders of the Messy Family Project. Together, they dive deep into the importance...

Every parent has bad days, but some of those bad days become great stories over time. Especially when there's a literal fork in the road. Support the show Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters ! Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com , and send us an email with your thoughts, question...

"If you find that you have wandered away from the shelter of God, lead your heart back to Him quietly and simply." ~ St. Francis de Sales What is wrong with me that I feel so overwhelmed sometimes? Why do I freeze up and struggle to process stress? How can I get back to my authentic self and  respond instead of  react ? In Episode 88 of This Whole Life , Pat & Kenna dive deep into th...

People have different ways of approaching the holidays and holy days. Even people who are sacramentally vowed to one another. And sometimes that's really tricky - but pretty funny in retrospect. Support the show Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters ! Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcas...

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 Is it really possible to stay sane around the holidays? What if I have real baggage from past holidays & celebrations? How do I hold onto my values when the routine is thrown out the window? In episode 87 of This Whole Life , Pat and Kenna dive into the highs, hards, and heart...

"Monsignor James Shea stopped using email in 2013." What?! In this inaugural Storytellers episode of This Whole Life , hear about this University president's story of deleting his email entirely: his reasoning, what he's learned, and what you can gain from his story. Support the show Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters ! Join our...

" The Christian faith does not destroy culture, but purifies and uplifts it. It takes away nothing of genuine value from a society or nation, but strengthens whatever is good for the betterment of all." ~ St. John Paul II What does it mean to live a beautiful life? How can I create a Catholic culture in my own life, family, school, or work? Should I be aiming to create a utopia on earth?...

"Each family finds within itself a summons that cannot be ignored, and that specifies both its dignity and its responsibility: family, become what you are." ~ St. John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio , §17 How do I acknowledge and communicate my sexual desires & needs? What do I do when my expectations about sex in marriage are unmet? Is it possible to keep the spark alive while practi...

"Love should be seen as something which in a sense never ‘is’ but is always only ‘becoming’, and what it becomes depends up on the contribution of both persons and the depth of their commitment.” ~ Karol Wojtyła Why doesn't arousal come as easily as we expected? How do we make opportunities for intimacy when life is so busy? How can I have honest conversations with my spouse about arousa...

"I belong to my lover, and my lover belongs to me; he feeds among the lilies." ~ Song of Solomon 6:3 Why isn't my sex life going the way I hoped it would? How do I talk to my spouse about sex after we've gotten into ruts? Is it possible to have more sex and better sex in our marriage? In Episode 82 of This Whole Life , Kenna is joined by Vonda Tiede, LMFT and Daniel Merboth to...

"For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." ~ Galatians 5:1 What if I didn't sign up for the life I have? What does my life feel so out of control? Why do I feel trapped in the life I'm leading? In Episode 81 of This Whole Life , hosts Pat & Kenna Millea dive deep into what it really means to take control of your life — es...

" A mild answer turns back wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." ~ Proverbs 15:1 Is it possible to fight fair? How can someone who hates conflict approach it better? How do you turn conflict into connection?  In this episode of This Whole Life, Pat and Kenna Millea dive deep into the heart of fighting well with the "Four Cs of Conflict." Drawing from real-life family stories...

“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, ‘Abba, Father!’” ~ Romans 8:15 Why are so many fathers struggling? Is it possible for fathers to live peaceful lives today? How can a man change the world through his identity as a father? In episode 79 of This Whole Life , Pat Millea sits down with Devin Schadt, founde...

"Love should be seen as something which in a sense never ‘is’ but is always only ‘becoming’, and what it becomes depends upon the contribution of both persons and the depth of their commitment.” ~ St. John Paul II In episode 78 of This Whole Life , hosts Kenna and Pat Millea welcome Dr. Mario Sacasa, a seasoned marriage and family therapist and host of the Always Hope podcast, for an honest a...

“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." ~ Matthew 10:16 Is there any way to make parenting less stressful? What can I do to make our life less chaotic? How can our family be a little more sane & connected? Let's face it - parenting in the 21st century is not for the faint of heart. In episode 76 of This Whole Life...

"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win." ~ 1 Corinthians 9:24 Are youth sports helping or hurting our kids? Can sports be a healthy way of honoring God? How can my children and I stay grounded in the midst of their sports? In Episode 75 of This Whole Life , hosts Pat and Kenna sit down with Super Bowl champion M...

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone." ~ Matthew 18:15 Why do I get caught in the middle of arguments in my family? Why is it so tempting to bring someone else into a tense situation? How do I break the cycle of being brought into triangles among my family & friends? In Episode 74 of This Whole Life , Kenna Millea welcomes Ben Baker, LMFT...

"Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." ~ 1 Corinthians 13:7 Why do I get so hurt by others' actions? Why is it so hard for me to let things slide? How can I give people close to me the benefit of the doubt? In episode 72 of This Whole Life , Kenna and Pat dive into the concept of Positive Sentiment Override, a game-changing mindset for bu...

“Man becomes an image of God not so much in the moment of solitude as in the moment of communion.” ~ St. John Paul II How do men connect with others? What makes it hard for men to have strong marriages & friendships? What can a man do to create healthier connections with others? This special episode of This Whole Life is the first "Relationship Roundtable," tackling issues related to...

" True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known. They are free to receive, to welcome, to accept." ~ Henri Nouwen Why is it so hard to listen well to others? Why am I so pained when others don't listen to me? Can I become a better & more active listener? In this episode of This Whole Life , Pat and Kenna welcome guest Addy Diaz to explore the art of ac...

"What we can be always sure of - no matter what is happening in our lives - is that we are not alone. You are not alone! God knows your suffering intimately and wants to walk with you through it." ~ Bishop James Conley How should a Christian respond to a mental health crisis? Do priests & bishops know what it's like to struggle with their mental health? Is it worth it to be open...

"Love without truth devolves into sentimentality. Truth without love becomes cold and calculated." ~ Bishop Robert Barron Where did we get to this place with regard to gender? How do I, a Christian, treat people who are gender nonconforming? What is the relationship between truth and love in real relationships? In Episode 67, hosts Kenna and Pat engage in a profound & faithful conver...

"Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins." ~ 1 Peter 4:8 What is a love language? What is MY love language? Why is it hard to connect with my spouse? How do I talk to my spouse about what makes me feel loved? In this heartwarming episode of This Whole Life , Kenna and Pat explore the concept of love languages, inspired by Gary Chapman&...

"If in spite of everything God does not give them children, they should not regard themselves as being thwarted. They should be happy, discovering in this very fact God's will for them. ... There is, then, no reason for feeling they are failures or for giving way to sadness." ~ St. Josemaría Escrivá Is God present in infertility? How do I deal with the sadness & anger of losing...

“It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start.” ~ St. Teresa of Calcutta Why am I so emotionally tied up in my kids' accomplishments? Is my child's behavior a verdict on my parenting? How can I be invested in my child without trying to control them? In Episode 64 of...