Hope in the Good Life Podcast

You're invited to spend three minutes with us for the latest edition of 180 with Katie. In this month's update, CSS Executive Director Katie Patrick and Development Officer John Soukup share how your generosity helped a refugee mother and her children avoid homelessness, supported families recovering from tornado damage in Auburn, and provided essential assistance to more than 1,100 people through...

What followed was a Holy Spirit-inspired vision, an outpouring of community support, and the creation of a new CSS Hastings campus designed to serve those in need across central Nebraska for decades to come. In this episode, John Soukup sits down with Hastings Regional Director Jon Kiehl to discuss the journey from challenge to renewal, the impact the new facility is already having on individuals...

This month’s "180 with Katie" highlights the many ways CSS staff and volunteers brought hope, dignity, and connection to the people we served throughout April. In 180 seconds, you’ll hear about a Good Samaritan who helped one of our refugee clients, and how sharing meals with clients inside the new Hastings building is so special. This episode captures meaningful moments that reflect Hope in the G...

In this episode, we travel to Auburn, Nebraska, to sit down with Dr. John Crotty, a longtime board member of Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. With more than 20 years of involvement, John shares why his commitment to CSS has remained strong—and how he has witnessed lives changed through acts of compassion, care, and faith. Through personal insight, this conversation highlights the rea...

In this episode of Hope in the Good Life, we welcome new board member Leslie Wiesler, who has already stepped into leadership as Board Secretary at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. Leslie shares what inspired her to get involved, the impact of her early experiences, and what has surprised her most about the depth and reach of CSS programs. Leslie offers a fresh perspective on how CSS...

This 180 second update gives you a clear, real look at how lives are changing across Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. From record growth last March in our thrift stores to powerful one-on-one encounters with individuals and families, you’ll hear how your support is making a difference right now by helping people find stability, dignity, and Hope in the Good Life.

As we celebrate National Volunteer Month this April, CSS is taking time to honor our volunteers – people who truly bring “Hope in the Good Life” to those we serve. In this special episode, you’ll hear how acts of service don’t just change lives, but uplift the soul, deepen faith, and reveal what it truly means to be the hands and feet of Christ.

In the latest 180 with Katie—a quick, three-minute update—CSS Executive Director Katie Patrick and Development Officer John Soukup share how your support is making a real difference in both immediate needs and lasting transformation. From a powerful story of faith and generosity at “Mercy Station” in Lincoln to record numbers of families served with basic necessities—and lives being changed throug...

“Christ is in the poor. Christ loves the poor. Christ desires for us to love the poor.” In this episode of Hope in the Good Life, we hear from seminarians of St. Gregory the Great Seminary who volunteer with Catholic Social Services Community Street Outreach. Together with Alexis Broulliette who leads this program, they share powerful stories of encounter, transformation, and what it truly means t...

As we prepare for this year’s Celebration of Hope Gala & Silent Auction on March 14, we’re bringing back one of the most powerful conversations shared on the Hope in the Good Life Podcast. In Episode 58, John Soukup sits down with Johnny Ray for a raw and deeply moving conversation about transformation, redemption, and the mercy of God. Once serving a life sentence, Johnny shares how his life was...

On this episode of Hope in the Good Life, John Soukup talks with Kevin Murray about Trumpet Fest, an annual concert that combines musical excellence with a mission of service. Kevin shares how the event began in 2004 and highlights the high caliber of musicians involved—from talented young students to seasoned professionals—performing a surprising variety of music in the beautiful acoustics of St....

The latest 180 with Katie highlights December at Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska as a powerful month of “hope in action.” John Soukup and Executive Director Katie Patrick share how staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners came together across southern Nebraska to serve families, support those experiencing homelessness, and bring comfort during the holiday season. From food m...

In this episode of Hope in the Good Life, John Soukup revisits a story of welcome that still matters today. In the aftermath of the 2021 evacuation of Afghanistan, CSS Volunteer Jeff Kanger opened his home to an Afghan family seeking safety and security, hosting them until Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska helped secure a permanent home through its refugee resettlement efforts. As the...

In this November episode of 180 with Katie, Executive Director Katie Patrick and Development Officer John Soukup look back on a month of strong community engagement, increasing need, and hopeful moments across southern Nebraska. The 180 second episode highlights record social media reach, generous donor and grant support, and meaningful impact through food assistance, family support services, immi...

In this episode, we take a look at meaningful and tax-wise ways to give as the year comes to a close. Host John Soukup sits down with planned giving expert Jim Gustafson, to explore simple year-end gifts, monthly giving, IRA charitable distributions, appreciated assets, grain donations, Donor Advised Funds, and more. If you’re considering a year-end gift to CSS or another nonprofit, this conversat...

In this episode of 180 with Katie, John and Katie take listeners through just over 180 seconds of highlights from an extraordinary month across all Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska locations. From record-setting assistance in Hastings and remarkable volunteer engagement in Auburn to significant increases in homelessness outreach and family support in Lincoln, October showcased CSS’s m...

On this episode of Hope in the Good Life Podcast, we’re coming to you from St. Gianna Women’s Home—a safe, faith-filled refuge in Lincoln where women and families find healing after domestic violence and under-supported pregnancies. Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska invites you and your family to Carole Fest 2025, a Christmas benefit concert on December 14th at 3 p.m. at St. Thomas Aqu...

In this episode of Hope in the Good Life, John Soukup visits with two Catholic Social Services team members serving in southwest Nebraska to share how they bring hope and compassion to families in rural communities. The conversation also highlights an upcoming Trivia Night fundraiser on November 14 in Imperial—an evening of fun that supports the serious work of helping neighbors in need. As the ti...

Just 180 seconds of your time to hear all about the happenings at CSS through the month of September!

On this episode of the Hope in the Good Life Podcast, we sit down with Lanetta Kellogg, the recipient of Catholic Social Services’ Love of Christ Award, which she will be presented with at the Bountiful Harvest Celebration on October 12. Whenever you see Lanetta, she seems to always have a smile on her face—and she says that smile comes from the joy of serving others as a volunteer at CSS Hastings...

180 with Katie is a fast-paced, three-minute podcast from Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. Each month, Executive Director Katie Patrick and Development Officer John Soukup share uplifting highlights of how CSS is bringing Hope in the Good Life. From volunteer stories to thrift store updates to the impact of family support programs, it’s a quick dose of hope and inspiration you won’t...

In this episode, we sit down with the new leadership team at CSS Hastings—Jonathan, CSS Hastings Regional Director; his wife, Teresa, CSS Hastings St. Joseph Gift & Thrift Store Manager; and Miranda, our CSS Hastings Development Officer. Together, they share their passion for serving the community, the exciting transition into a new building that will expand CSS’s outreach, and what’s ahead for th...

"180 with Katie" is a quick, three-minute podcast from Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska. Hosted by Executive Director Katie Patrick and Development Officer John Soukup, each episode shares news, stories, and updates about how CSS brings food, shelter, and hope to neighbors across Southern Nebraska. In just about 180 seconds, listeners can hear how generosity, faith, and compassion are...

In this episode of the Hope in the Good Life Podcast, John Soukup sits down with estate attorney and CSS supporter Bob Sullivan. Together they discuss the importance of having a will, how estate planning provides peace of mind for families, and how a will can reflect your faith and values. They also highlight CSS’s Legacy of Hope Society, an opportunity to leave a lasting impact by including Catho...

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska (CSS) (csshope.org) kicked off its 2025 fundraising season in grand style with the 21st annual Trumpet Fest on Sunday, February 16, at St. Joseph Church in Lincoln. Guests enjoyed an afternoon of exceptional music from some of the area’s finest trumpeters, including Kevin Murray, UNL’s Dr. Darryl White and the Darryl White Trio, and UNK’s Dr. Louie Eck...