Catholics on Campus

More students with autism are pursuing higher education than ever before, yet many struggle with loneliness, anxiety, and finding a true sense of belonging. College can be challenging for anyone, but for students on the autism spectrum, finding connection and belonging can feel especially difficult. In this episode, Tony Hernandez Pumarejo, a certified life coach, writer, and advocate, offers a wi...

Pornography is one of the most widespread yet least discussed struggles affecting young adults today. But freedom is possible. In this episode, Steve Pokorny, founder of Freedom Coaching, shares his personal journey from addiction to healing and reveals a transformative approach that goes beyond behavior modification to address the deeper wounds beneath pornography and unchaste behaviors. Together...

What if the way you see your body is keeping you from the freedom God wants for you? In this episode, Virginia interviews Catholic nutritionist and author Florencia Moynihan , to discuss the lies that keep women at war with their bodies. They explore how faith, nutrition, mindset, and understanding the goodness of the body can lead to deeper healing and lasting freedom. Discover why caring for you...

What if the clarity you’re searching for about your purpose … is already within you? In this episode, we explore the often overlooked reality of charisms—your unique, God-given gifts meant to impact others and reveal how you’re called to live and serve. If you’ve ever felt unsure of your direction or wondered what makes you you , this conversation with Jill Simons , executive director of Many Part...

Pregnancy during college can feel overwhelming, especially when fear, financial pressure, or lack of support make a young woman believe she has no good options. But ministries like MiraVia are changing that story. In this inspiring conversation, Virginia interviews Debbie Capen , about the mission of MiraVia and the life-changing support they provide for pregnant college students and young mothers...

Artificial intelligence is changing everything, but how should Catholics respond? In this episode, Rob Kubasko returns to explore how emerging technologies like AI are shaping our lives, our thinking, and even our faith. Rob offers a balanced and insightful perspective, reminding us that while technology can be a powerful tool, it should never replace the deeper truths of human dignity, free will,...

College can be exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming, lonely, and uncertain. That’s why vibrant campus ministries are so important. In this episode, Virginia interviews Rebecca Siar , who serves students at the University of Illinois Chicago , about how the Newman Center creates a welcoming home for students seeking faith, community, and purpose. Rebecca shares what it looks like to accompan...

Loneliness is one of the greatest struggles facing college students today—but authentic Catholic community offers a powerful antidote. In this episode, Nathan Carr , Director of Campus Ministry at North Dakota State University, shares how meaningful relationships, intentional conversations, and faith-centered community can transform life on campus. Drawing from his years of campus ministry and his...

Why are so many college students—and even Protestant pastors—becoming Catholic today? In this compelling conversation, Dr. Sam Nunnally shares his remarkable story of conversion from Protestant pastor to Catholic professor, author, and evangelist, and what he’s witnessing on campus today. From launching the “It’s Okay to Be Catholic” movement to mentoring students exploring the faith, Dr. Nunnally...

Have you ever wondered how professors live out their faith on campus? In this conversation, political science professor Dr. Paul Vasquez shares his journey as a lifelong Catholic in higher education—from the military to Notre Dame to public universities. He reflects on teaching as a vocation, integrating Catholic thought without preaching, and offering students wisdom on focus, integrity, and disc...

What if your creativity and business ideas are part of God’s plan for your vocation? The Catholic Church teaches that entrepreneurship can be a response to God’s call to co-create with Him , serving the common good and promoting human dignity. In this episode, college student and entrepreneur Clare , founder of St. Clare and Francis , shares how she turned a high-school sticker project into a thri...

Have you ever wondered what the Catholic Church looks like beyond your own parish or campus? In our latest Catholics on Campus episode, author Daniel Markham shares how attending Mass in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico transformed his faith and revealed the beauty, diversity, and unity of the Church across America. His journey will inspire you to see the Eucharist, your parish, and...

How can young Catholics stay strong in faith on a large, secular campus? In this uplifting episode, Texas A&M freshman Bryce LaRue shares his journey of finding community, purpose, and peace through the Eucharist—and how college life can become a powerful mission field for Christ. Bryce Larue, a communications major and student leader, joins us to share: How a life-changing encounter at a Steu...

The Jubilee Year of Hope has come to a close—but the call to live with hope is just beginning.   In this episode, you’ll hear: A recap of the most inspiring moments from the Jubilee Year of Hope Why  St. John Henry Newman  was named the newest Doctor of the Church and what it means for Catholic education today. How the four  temperaments  experience hope differently....

To celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen , the Church’s first deacon and martyr, Virginia interviews creative professional and lifelong Catholic Rob Kubasko , who recently entered formation for the permanent diaconate . With humor, honesty, and heart, Rob shares his unconventional path to diaconate formation —and what it really means to serve the Church in today’s world. You’ll hear Rob share: How Go...

Grief touches every heart—but what does faith look like in the midst of deep loss? In this moving conversation, Virginia interviews Kevin Carey , hospice chaplain, bereavement counselor, and author of The Grief Guide: Discovering the Reality of Continuing Bonds . They explore what healthy grieving looks like for Catholics, how to support a friend who’s mourning, and why the “ ministry of presence...

Every expert was once a beginner — but what does it mean to begin again with faith, humility, and trust in God? In this inspiring conversation, newly ordained priest Fr. Chris Holcomb joins Virginia to explore the beauty and challenge of new beginnings. They talk about what it means to start fresh spiritually, how to embrace being a beginner, and the power of patience, beauty, and love in building...

What does it mean to walk where saints once walked? After a 10-day pilgrimage through Poland, Virginia reflects on the nation’s incredible story of resilience, devotion, and grace. From visiting the sacred sites of St. Maximilian Kolbe , St. John Paul II , and St. Faustina Kowalska , to kneeling before the Black Madonna of Częstochowa , this episode captures how faith can thrive even amid persecut...

What happens when pain becomes your constant companion—and no doctor can explain why? In this episode, Virginia interviews Heidi Kennedy , a Catholic mindset coach whose 13-year battle with chronic back pain, anxiety, and depression led her to a breakthrough that changed her life. After years of failed treatments, Heidi discovered the mind-body connection and the healing power of faith, mindset, a...

Can what you wear shape how you feel, think, and even witness your faith? Catholic life coach, mother of seven, and former model Heather Siekierski joins the show to share how modesty and style can beautifully coexist. Discover how to dress with dignity, confidence, and grace—reflecting your identity as a beloved child of God in a culture that often forgets what true beauty means. Heather also dis...

In this episode of Catholics on Campus, we will meet Jacob Lombardo. He's a senior at the University of Central Florida, majoring in political science. Earlier this fall, Jacob attended a workshop that I facilitated where he learned the results of his Working Genius assessment . In this episode, we discuss how Jacob's results have given him new insights into his contributions to a team and his rol...

When tragedy shakes our campuses, how do we respond with both truth and love ? In the wake of the shocking campus assassination of Charlie Kirk, our hearts are heavy. But this moment also calls us to reflect: How can we, as Catholics, be instruments of peace, truth, and dialogue in a world where division often dominates? This episode offers: Four virtues to cultivate when listening across differen...

Artificial Intelligence is shaping our world faster than most of us can keep up with—but what does that mean for our faith, our choices, and the way we live as Catholics? Today, I revisit the topic of AI, sharing what’s changed in the past year, what the Church is saying, and how you can stay grounded in virtue in the age of rapid technological change. I explore the moral and spiritual challenges...

As the fall semester begins, I invite you to pause and ponder some big questions about the new season ahead. In this episode, I am sharing personal stories of discernment and the journey of aligning our lives more fully with God’s purpose by examining what might be holding us back. Whether you’re navigating busy schedules, developing your talents, or managing your finances, I unpack the Catholic c...

Get ready to pack your spiritual bags for a “Roadtrip with the Saints.” Virginia takes us on a remarkable 25-day journey across Italy, celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary while exploring the sacred sites and stories of some of the Church’s most influential saints. Along the way, you’ll hear tales of St. Padre Pio, St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, and even the soon-...