Like A Mother with Katie McGrady

In this heartfelt and refreshingly honest episode of Like A Mother , Katie McGrady sits down with Jennie Bradley Lichter , President of the March for Life, legal professional, and mother of three, for a conversation that’s equal parts personal testimony and cultural commentary. Jennie shares her journey from high-powered attorney, including roles at a major law firm, in the White House, and at Cat...

In this special solo episode of Like A Mother , Katie McGrady steps away from the usual format to reflect on the heartbreaking tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School and Parish in Minneapolis , where a school shooting during Mass claimed the lives of two children and critically injured others. With raw honesty and a mother’s heart, Katie shares her personal reaction: the helplessness, the grief,...

It’s within our homes that our kids learn how to be people – good people, virtuous people, holy people. Elizabeth Busby shares how we can build a home that is rooted in trust, gives space for our kids to learn to be themselves and grow in virtue, and offers practical insights into what moms must do to maintain not only their sanity, but their sanctity.  Links:  https://tobinstitute.org/events/fres...

Originally aired in December 2022, this conversation with Emily Frase remains one of our most downloaded episodes—and for good reason. Emily gets real about the complicated, unfiltered reality of NFP, Catholic motherhood, and what happens when doing everything “right” still leads to suffering. Her honesty struck a chord with so many listeners navigating similar tensions in their own marriages, spi...

When catastrophic floods devastated the Texas Hill Country earlier this month, Kathryn Whitaker responded with action—raising $34,000 in just a few days to directly support impacted families through gift cards distributed via 4-H agents and local parishes. In this raw and timely episode, Kathryn and Katie McGrady talk about grief, generosity, trauma, and what it means to show up for others in mome...

When Pope Francis passed away in April 2025, Catholic media entered an intense and emotional season of reporting. Among those on the ground in Rome was Gretchen R. Crowe, Editor-in-Chief of OSV News and a Catholic mom of three. In this episode, Katie McGrady talks with Gretchen about the whirlwind of covering a papal funeral, the interregnum, and the election of Pope Leo, all while navigating the...

What if the best way to raise a curious, creative, and confident child… is to let them be bored? This week on Like A Mother , Katie McGrady is joined by Catholic school librarian and mother of two boys, Elizabeth Nava , to talk about parenting through summer break, encouraging a love for reading, and why building a “capacity for boredom” might be the best gift you can give your kids. They unpack:...

In this rewind-worthy conversation, Katie is joined by Elizabeth Nava — Catholic mom, school librarian, homemaker, Etsy shop owner, and everyday theologian of the domestic church. Together, they dive deep into the danger of absolutes in motherhood — the “I’ll always” and “I’ll never” — and explore what real discernment looks like in the mess of everyday life. Elizabeth shares candidly about her id...

"Joy is a fact, not a feeling. Christ is our joy — whether we feel it or not." - Dr. Peter Kreeft  In the midst of life’s whirlwind — from papal funerals and conclave coverage to First Communion prep and family chaos — Katie McGrady sits down with renowned Catholic philosopher and author Dr. Peter Kreeft for a conversation unlike any other on Like a Mother . Together, they dive deep into...

When Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday during the Jubilee Year of Hope, the world stopped—and so did a family trip to Rome. In this deeply personal episode of Like A Mother , host Katie McGrady opens her heart to share the intimate, real-time journey of processing the death of Pope Francis. From receiving the call to cover his funeral for CNN and SiriusXM, to breaking the news to her young...

What’s it like to balance the bright lights of Hollywood with the everyday chaos of motherhood? Emmy-winning actress Patricia Heaton joins host Katie McGrady for a raw, funny, and inspiring conversation about juggling stardom and family life. In this must-listen episode of Like A Mother, Heaton opens up about:- Her journey from aspiring actress to TV icon in Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle-...

Sister Josephine Garrett’s second season of Hope Stories explores various mental health diagnoses and explains the value of seeking healing through the lens of hope. She also shares how hope can be a foundation for moms, even in the midst of challenges or hardships in motherhood.  Learn more about Sr. Josephine at:  https://nazarethcsfn.org/ https://www.instagram.com/sr_josephine/ Hope Stories wit...

Sharing the faith in our homes isn’t just a matter of saying “believe this” or “do that.” It’s a chance to cultivate a sense of wonder, awe, and joy in the Lord. Director of children’s content for Hallow, Ashley Lenz, shares how on the Hallow app and in her own home, she is helping craft moments of encounter and prayer for little ones to meet Jesus and grow to love the Church.  https://hallow.com/...

We want our kids to “behave,” both at home and in public. But “good behavior” isn’t just for our own peace of mind or for the sake of calm children…it’s a way to honor the people we’re around, and when we have “good manners,” it isn’t a haughty pursuit to make others feel bad: it’s a chance to show the goodness of humanity, ours and those we are with. Etiquette coach and trainer Claire Couche, joi...

How do moms find “their thing” and thrive, and how can each mom navigate their lane with confidence, joy, and hope? Host of the CNBC shows “The Exchange” and “Power Lunch,” Kelly Evans shares how being a working mom on live television five days a week helps her be a great mom at home, with five kids and one on the way.    An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your C...

A few weeks after joining “Like a Mother” to talk about writing, ministry to moms, navigating loss, and finding ways to be creative even when life is heavy and hard, Laura Kelly Fanucci was diagnosed with breast cancer. It changed everything, in every aspect of her life, and two years later, she’s back to tell us the story, what she’s learned, and how she appreciates life in a new way these days. ...

Jackie Francois Angel, wife, mother of 5, speaker, and author of the new “Memorize Scripture” helps explain how keeping Scripture at the forefront of our minds is the best way to stay grounded, patient, and present as moms. When the Word of God is stuck in our heads, like the lyrics of a favorite song, then we are able to more peacefully and joyfully embrace the challenges of each day, and are abl...

In this episode of Like a Mother with Katie McGrady, Heather Khym returns to discuss the transitions of motherhood, particularly the shift to empty nesting. Heather shares insights into letting God guide your children's lives, balancing parental authority and freedom, and cultivating a Catholic worldview. The conversation touches on practical tips for mothers, the challenges of parenting grow...

In this episode of Like a Mother, host Katie engages in a heartfelt conversation with Clare Sheaf, a new mom and recent co-author of the Catholic Kids Cookbook. They discuss the pressures and joys of motherhood, the significance of building family traditions, and the importance of balancing digital life with real-life connections. Clare shares her experiences growing up in a large Catholic family...

In this special OSV-FOCUS collab episode, Katie McGrady talks to Kelsey Skoch about being a mom in ministry, how to balance “on stage” with “at home”, and they explore the value of bringing a family to big events, like SEEK, the National Eucharistic Congress, and other large ministry gatherings. Kelsey shares her experience with FOCUS and how she became involved in a ministry that’s changed her li...

We have to give our kids enough space to be independent, make mistakes, and then grow from them. We also have to protect our kids from the dangers of the world, both real and sometimes imagined. And we have to do all of that at a time when more and more of society seems to be remarkably unfriendly to families, children, and their needs. Tim Carney, author of the bestselling “Family Unfriendly,” jo...

The “gender movement” we find ourselves in as a culture can be tricky to navigate, especially with our kids. How do we talk positively about the differences between men and women and help our kids understand who they are, how God made them, and why that is good. A convert to Catholicism and a professor studying gender and femininity at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Not...

Cindy Bird went back to graduate school years after graduating from college, while in the midst of the sometimes busiest years of motherhood. Why? Because she was prompted by the Holy Spirit. How do we listen to the Spirit, when it comes to discernment, parenting, within our marriage, and as we’re navigating big life changes? Now a licensed professional mental health counselor, and of course still...

In this episode of 'Like A Mother with Katie McGrady,' Katie talks with Julianne Stanz about fostering faith and hope within our children and family life. They explore personal anecdotes and practical tips, such as creating spaces for prayer, integrating Catholic traditions, and the importance of honesty and vulnerability in sharing one's faith journey. Julianne shares her unique pe...

How do we engage with politics, especially as mothers raising the next generation? How do we embrace political homelessness, fight for the common good, advocate for life, and do it all in a presidential election cycle that seems to be toxic and vitriolic and presents us with options that aren’t ideal? Political strategist, journalist, and activist Emily Zanotti shares the story of how motherhood a...