The Family Room

Jonah Soucy, speaker, musician, author A self-professed youth group kid who tagged along with his youth-minister mom, Jonah Soucy was able to observe her patient nurturing of those in her charge. Perhaps due to this early exposure, Jonah has a great depth of understanding about how we can develop a meaningful relationship with God. Growing up in the White Mountain range of New Hampshire, Jonah fir...

Tami Kiser, retreat director, teacher, author, speaker Tami and Keith Kiser began dating in high school and found their love of God growing through a teen ministry called Young Life. They attended the same college where they continued to be active in Young Life, participating in their summer camp programs.   This foundation has come full circle today with the Kisers purchasing a former camp,...

A review of the distinctive and amazing Family Room episodes of 2024, from practical ways to grow in our faith journey to miracle stories of healing, redemption, and hope.

Mike McCoy, past NFL defensive tackle, motivational speaker Mike McCoy began his football career at Notre Dame University and then played 11 more years for the NFL. Although he was the #1 draft pick for the Green Bay Packers, he’s quick to divulge he was anything but an agile athlete as a child. Overweight and bullied, Mike never felt he measured up.   His father was an alcoholic, and his fam...

 Emily Jaminet, author, podcaster, ministry foundress Enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the fulfillment of a request Jesus made to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s when He said, “I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.” Emily Jaminet has taken this promise to heart and founded a ministry to promote enthronement far and wide. Emily’s lov...

Uta Trogele, motivational speaker and culture influencer When native German Uta Trogele realized young people were distancing themselves from one another in favor of electronic relationships, she created an alternative that would be fun and educational at the same time. Having represented Germany in basketball as well as becoming a physical education teacher, Uta understood that physical touch is...

Dr. Andrew Abela, author, college professor When we think of leaving a legacy for our grandchildren, lofty goals often take a back burner to simple things like honesty and integrity.  Yet, for too many of us, our successes can be undermined by a life filled with unhappiness and regret.  Dr. Andrew Abela saw the chronic discontent all around and sought to create a way to help people see w...

Mary Rice Hasson, policy expert on gender ideology Transgenderism is fundamentally a rejection of what we’ve received as a son or daughter of God. Misguided advocates teach we should be able to create our own identity based on feelings. Mary Rice Hasson is an attorney who has tackled the tsunami of gender confusion. She co-founded the “Person and Identity Project” (PIP) which aims to equip parents...

Fr. Elias Dorham, Melkite Catholic priest Few people think of calling a Catholic priest “Grandpa,” but fewer still know there are more than 20 Eastern rites in the Catholic church, all of which are self-governing churches under the Pope, and most of which permit married priests. Fr. Elias Dorham, pastor of St. John Chrysostom Melkite Catholic Church in Atlanta, gives a short explanation of the dif...

Amanda and Jeff Schiefelbein, parents of seven children Returning guest Jeff Schiefelbein and his wife, Amanda, share the journey of raising a family deeply rooted in faith. Jeff, a celebrated entrepreneur and father, previously gave listeners a glimpse of his faith-driven approach to life. This time, alongside Amanda, the conversation delves into the authentic joys and trials of leading a family...

Dr. John Bruchalski, founder of Divine Mercy Care Discover compelling insights as former abortionist Dr. John Bruchalski takes us on his journey from abortion to life-affirming medicine. Dr. Bruchalski shares his powerful story of conversion and healing, giving listeners a look into the complexities he faced as a young Ob-Gyn. Once entrenched in the pro-choice medical establishment, Dr. Bruchalski...

Amelia Bielski, podcast creator Amelia Bielski, the inspiring creator and host of The Heart That God Gave You podcast, shares her journey of faith, the inspiration behind starting her podcast, and how God uses her unique gifts to reach others. Explore with us the power of storytelling, vulnerability, and how young Catholics are stepping out in faith to make a difference. Amelia offers wisdom on fi...

Deacon Steve Greco, evangelist, documentary producer Deacon Steve Greco shares about his powerful documentary, Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist , which embarks on a global journey to rediscover and revive the transformative power of the Eucharist. Engaging in dialogues with notable Catholic figures, the film explores the biblical origins of the Eucharist and shares personal stories of i...

Anna Sonoda, LCSW, psychotherapist Anna Sonoda, licensed clinical social worker and author of Duck, Duck, Groom: Understanding How a Child Becomes a Target , first appeared on The Family Room in December 2022, and her insights about the grooming process have continued to resonate. In this episode, Anna returns to discuss her latest project, Duck, Duck, Groom: A Guided Journal , a workbook designed...

Will Henry, teenage entrepreneur Enjoy this incredible opportunity to sit down with 16-year-old Will Henry, the inspiring founder of Rings of the Lord. Will shares his faith journey, his entrepreneurial venture creating handmade rosaries, and how God has guided him to combine his love of business and devotion to the Blessed Mother. He reveals the history behind the Irish Penal Rosary, explains how...

Pierce Benefield Dive into the powerful journey of faith with Pierce Benefield. At just 28 years old, Pierce made an inspiring conversion to Catholicism, sharing the steps that led him from a life of Protestantism and Calvinism to embracing the richness of the Catholic Church. His story is filled with both intellectual discovery and deeply personal moments of spiritual awakening. Pierce talks abou...

Jamie & Andy Oreffice, founders of Catholic Adopt Project Jamie and Andy Oreffice are a couple on a mission - both were successful career people when they decided Jamie would leave the working world to raise a family. Two children later, they moved to Georgia and stumbled upon a strong Catholic community of people who loved living their faith. Their story is not unlike many in that they were b...

Kevin Matthews, iconic radio personality, husband, dad, grandad and author Many people don’t understand Our Blessed Mother, but few can deny the power of a mother’s love. Kevin Matthews stumbled upon a broken statue of Mary in a filthy dumpster, and it changed his life. Introduced to radio in college, Kevin was hooked after subbing for a friend on the student-run station. He stuck with it and beca...

Tracy Winsor, wife, mother, grandmother, and ministry founder Few things will knock the wind out of your sails like a cancer diagnosis – except maybe a terminal cancer diagnosis. Tracy Winsor had been thoroughly content raising six sons and managing a highly-acclaimed non-profit when she received the diagnosis of stage-four metastatic breast cancer in 2022. Your whole world stops at moments like t...

Cassie Everts, wife, mom, author, and speaker The loss of a child through miscarriage or stillbirth is devastating. Yet it’s one of the few forbidden topics still prevalent today. What do you say to someone in this situation? How do you help them grieve? Cassie Everts lost her first child just one year after her wedding. Two more miscarriages quickly followed and although Cassie and her husband ha...

After getting a DUI in college, Jeff Schiefelbein chose to create rather than complain when God gave him a 20-year vision. That vision helped Jeff launch “Carpool,” the nation’s largest college safe-ride program and the first of many successful businesses. Although a cradle Catholic who never wandered, lukewarm catechesis made Jeff yearn for something deeper. In his late 20’s he realized that ever...

David Hancharik, engineer, husband, father, ministry leader David and Nina Hancharik are parents to eleven children, ages 34 to 2. Their autistic son, Seth, caused a watershed moment in their parenting as David readily admits, “Autism is a monumental challenge.” Though challenging, David insists God never makes mistakes, believing a major reason these kids have challenges is because God has chosen...

Bart Schuchts, founder of “Church On Fire” ministry, speaker, retreat presenter The mission of the Holy Spirit is to take the spark of our Baptism and infuse us with an energy best described as a burning fire. Most of us ignore this mission until a personal crisis draws us to the flame. Born the sixth of seven children in what he jokes was the “perfect” Catholic family, Bart Schuchts admits he bli...

Mike and Alicia Hernon, parents of 10 children and co-founders of The Messy Family Project Mike and Alicia Hernon share their joyful wisdom borne from the experience of parenting ten children and creating resources to empower moms and dads to embrace their calling. Hear discussions on four key principles of parenting, parenting as a team, the role of grandparents, and the importance of “family cul...

Tracy Winsor, wife, mother, grandmother, and ministry co-founder The joy of a pregnancy can dissolve when parents are told prenatal testing may have uncovered a genetic defect. While these tests are meant to screen rather than diagnose, they become a defining moment for parents. Tracy Winsor was one of those mothers and it changed her life forever. Not because of despair, but because it became the...