Seemingly Ordinary

Lucia Brancato is an English teacher and a wedding planner. We started off talking about books, but ended up on life's deepest questions.  Books include: Sea Biscuit, Unbroken, and Where the Crawdads Sing . (This episode was recorded in Sept. 2021.) 

We started this crazy episode at 9:30 p.m., and went past 12:30 a.m. In it, Emily discusses the topics that mean the most to her: marriage, the Incorruptibles, miracles, saints, mystics, and personality tests. And courage. It's a wild ride. (This episode was recorded in July 2021.)

Charles Lanza taught theology, and  has excellent advice on prayer. (This episode was recorded in the summer of 2021.)

English teacher Stacey Rains is one of the most artistic people I know. In this episode, we discuss her favorite books, and more. (This episode was recorded in 2021.)

Marcus Kain's life defies summary. A man in business, volunteer work, and teaching, Marcus can also be a social entrepreneur—he is always figuring out how to get people together, to go out, have fun, and enjoy life.  (This episode was recorded in late 2020.)

Catherine Suprenant is the new director of City on a Hill, a ministry for thousands of people.  She's worked as a Marriage Formation Counselor (and has brilliant advice about love and commitment). And she's worked for Mommies Matter, which provides deep emotional and other support for single moms. Wise, friendly, and funny, Catherine has devoted her life to helping as many people as poss...

Emily Wobker is an athlete, a ridiculously well read person, and a homeschooling mom of six kids.  Emily's favorite things include: games, books, musicals, singing (professionally!), the Olympics, sports, and the saints.  We discuss each under the theory that how how enjoy life says a great deal about every other aspect of your life! And--given the state of the world--we could all use a break...

Charles Lanza is a well-read teacher with multiple degrees. Today, we discuss evolutionary psychology and Roman Catholicism, and see if there is any overlap. (This episode was recorded on May 25, 2021.)

City on a Hill is a young adult ministry in Kansas City where, over time, thousands of people have participated in its sports, social events, service projects, and spiritual gatherings. Starting in 2006, Carrie essentially built it from the ground up.  Now, she is involved as an advisor, although "advisor" doesn't adequately describe her current role. In this special episode, she di...

Andy Flattery is the owner of Simple Wealth Planning in North Kansas City, Missouri. He helps young and affluent families in the earlier stages of wealth building.  He hosts the podcasts, The Reformed Financial Advisor , and contributes to both Catholic Money Mastermind and The Moonlight Graham Show.  

Joe Hunninghake, a deputy sheriff, knows a lot about saints, from those facing execution to the mystics who know things that startle us all. His podcast is "The Heavenly Social."

Peter King just completed his first year at St. Thomas Aquanis College in California. I interviewed him in late May 2021, and that episode debuted on July 6, 2021. In it, we discussed his life in the arts: acting, singing, writing, and more. Peter has also been in several local movies! Today, we are going to dive deeply into acting in particular: the movies he’s been in, the projects that he would...

Brigitte Linford has led the most incredible life. She is a fitness coach for Beach Body, but what she has overcome personally has to be heard to be believed. (This episode was recorded in July 2021.)

This is a tough era to join the police, but Joe Hunninghake felt compelled to serve as many people as possible. Ever since he made this decision, his life has become incredibly rewarding. Joe is also a performer for Tan Books, a company that makes audiobooks. With Tan Books, at last count, Joe has contributed to twelve audiobooks, including The Agony of Jesus and Trustful Surrender. (This episode...

In 2020 and 2021, St. James Academy won back-to-back football state championships. Coach Matt Joshi gives us the inside story. (This episode was recorded on March 11, 2022.)

This is an unusual episode: two artists discuss beauty. What it is, how to create it, and why we need it to make life worthwhile. This far-ranging conversation is mediative and thought-provoking, just like Abby and Molly. Abby Herrick is a senior in college studying to be a teacher. She is an outstanding playwright, and I interviewed her about two of her plays—and a hilarious speech that she wrote...

Matthew Newkirk is a sophomore at Mizzou. He is also going into a really tough field: journalism. With newsrooms shrinking, how can a student get ahead? Matthew is doing everything possible.

Erin Forbes is the author of "The Elementals," "The Lost Dreamer," and "The Kindred Woods," available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and everywhere books are sold. It’s an epic fantasy trilogy, and the covers are gorgeous. Erin is also a graphic designer, and gives advice to aspiring authors on Instagram. One other cool thing: she finished her first novel when she was...

Christy Dalke is a psychologist who works for the Veterans’ Administration. She knows a lot about PTSD, Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, Skills Training in Affect and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR) Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), and Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE).  We start with a story that hit a little too close to home for her. (This episode was rec...

Wilder than the Wild West.

Reed Wilkinson, 22, is a deep thinker who just passed the LSAT. In this wide ranging episode, we discuss life's ultimate questions, including: Is there a God? If so, why does God allow evil to proliferate? And what is driving the rampant anxiety that many people under 25 suffer from, today? We discuss these questions, and more, through the lens of books like "Man's Search for Meanin...

Zoe Schierts has one of the most inspiring stories you can imagine--and despite all of the hardships she has had to work through, her attitude a blend of optimism and realism that has to be heard to be believed. But once you understand this heartening young woman's philosophy of life, you'll want to enact, too, and get Zoe's outsized results, generosity, and happiness.

Jaime Cailteux reflects on a lifetime of nursing and its best moments, and how family changes everything.