This Whole Life

“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” ~ Blaise Pascal Do the big, existential questions of life really matter? Why is it so tempting to avoid the big questions? How can I deal with the big questions in ways that I can process? In Episode 63 of This Whole Life , Pat and Kenna engage with clinical counselor Alex Wallace to explore the big questions: W...

"The Christian community is called to help them [parents] in teaching children how to live in a media environment in way consonant with the dignity of the human person and service of the common good.” ~ Pope Francis Does technology really harm children & teens? How do I raise my children in a world steeped in tech & social media? Is it even worth the fight to resist the culture when i...

"As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.” ~ John 17:18 How do I share the gospel when others aren't open to it? Can I be an authentic Christian if my job doesn't allow me to express it openly? How do I love people who are hostile toward my faith? Our world is fallen and broken, and in many ways it seems to be growing more opposed to the Christian life. Pat is j...

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.” ~ St. Francis de Sales Why are my habits so hard to change? Why do I keep doing the things I don't want to do? How do I build a new habit and get rid of others? In Episode 60, Kenna and Pat...

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:10 Why do I react the way that I do? How much of my personality can I change? How does my temperament impact my relationships, my work, and my faith? Join Kenna and Pat as they dive into the fascinating world of temperaments with Art and Laraine Bennett, renowned authors of " T...

“Return home and recount what God has done for you.” ~ Luke 8:39 Where has the Lord been most clearly present in the story of your life? Is my story really worth telling? What good would it do to share my story with someone else?   In this heartfelt and enriching episode of "This Whole Life," hosts Kenna and Pat Millea engage in a profound conversation with Fr. Angelus Montgomery, the vo...

"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." ~ John 8:36 Is there hope for people who are stuck in addiction? Is healing really possible for everyone ? If God really knows what I've done, how could he forgive me? In episode 55 of "This Whole Life," Pat engages in a profound conversation with guest Scott Weeman, founder of Catholic In Recovery . Scott shares his...

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 Change is hard. Yet, it's something that every person experiences on a daily basis. How can something so universal be so difficult for us? In this episode of This Whole Life , Pat and Kenna dive into the challenges surrounding life changes and transitions. So many clients b...

"There is a God close to us who calls us by name and says: 'Rise, cease your tears, because I have come to free you!'" ~ Pope Francis Pornography, masturbation, sexual sin, and sexual addiction are not only problems for men. In Episode 53, Kenna and guest Rachael Killackey confront the sensitive yet crucial topic of sexual sin and addiction among women through the lens of faith...

"In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support…" ~ Pope Francis, Letter to Families, February 2014 Do you feel like you need a vacation to recover from your vacation? Have you spent time and money on trips that leave you feeling disappointed & frustrated? Do you have nightm...

"I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father." ~ John 15:15 Friendship is one of the highest experiences of human life, but it can also be the source of some of our greatest pains and struggles. Why do we desire deep and abiding friendship? Are all friendship...

"It is not the soul alone that should be healthy; if the mind is healthy in a healthy body, all will be healthy and much better prepared to give God greater service." ~ St. Ignatius of Loyola Why do I respond to things differently from others? What can I do when I'm feeling overwhelmed? How can I help my kids process & respond to the world around them? Episode 50 brings an emine...

"Through Sunday rest, daily concerns and tasks can find their proper perspective: the material things about which we worry give way to spiritual values..." ~ St. John Paul II Sunday, the Lord's day, has a very particular purpose and call. But our world has diminished Sunday to look like any other day. How can Christians reclaim this part of their inheritance with reverence and rest...

"Holiness consists simply in doing God's will, and being just what God wants us to be." ~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux This Whole Life returns to its roots! In episode 46, Kenna is joined by Fr. Marc Foley, OCD, author of the seminal work that led to this very podcast: The Love That Keeps Us Sane: Living the Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux .  Together, Kenna and Fr. Marc delve into t...

“The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.” ~ St. Thérèse of Lisieux The arrival of a child is an unspeakable gift and a grace for which to be thankful. But there can also be deeply painful moments during pregnancy and after the baby arrives. Millions of mothers know the hardship of postpartum depression, anxiety, distance from their spouse, disappointment, difficulty...

"Pure love is capable of great deeds, and it is not broken by difficulty or adversity." ~ St. Faustina Do you have the same arguments over and over again? Are you frustrated by a lack of connection in your relationship? Is it possible to still be connected when you disagree with the person you love? In this episode, Kenna and Pat Millea explore the transformative power of prioritizing Pr...

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?" ~ 1 Corinthians 6:19 "Why isn't my body different?" "Why did God give me this particular body?" "What if I feel frustrated by, or even hate, my own body?" All of us have feelings & questions about the bodies that God has...

"My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted." ~ Galatians 6:1 Why is it so tempting to speak harshly to the people that we love most in the world? How do we overcome this habit and speak with the gentleness that comes from the Holy Spirit? In this...

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." ~ 2 Corinthians 3:17 How often do we hear that someone is "obsessed" with a new show or that they keep a clean home because they're "a little OCD"? The reality is that the burden of OCD weighs heavily on millions of people who suffer with this disorder, and on those who love them...

" And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." ~ Colossians 3:17 Marriage and family life is a beautiful, romantic, sacramental vocation. And in the midst of that vocation, spouses also need to deal with finances, schedules, meal plans, parenting, budgets, and to-do lists. How are we supposed to mainta...

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:10 As humans living in a fallen world, we often feel the space between our hopes and reality, and in that space we find disappointment, frustration, and heartbreak. Our relationships, our families, our work are marked by this hardship. What do we do when we are so tempted to either...

"It is necessary that the heroic becomes daily and that the daily becomes heroic." ~ Saint Zélie Martin In this fallen world, there are particular evils that require the grace of God and the support of loved ones to overcome. Pornography certainly falls into this category. In the second half of the conversation about pornography, Pat & Kenna discuss the consequences that brokenness a...

" Create in me a clean heart, O God..." ~ Psalm 51:12 How can something that affects all of us be something that we almost never talk about honestly and purposefully? Pornography has infiltrated individuals, marriages, families, and the Church, and it's time to deal with it in ways that are faithful and fruitful. In this incredibly candid episode, Pat and Kenna dive into an intimate...

" We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God." ~ St. Vincent de Paul   ➡️"Snowplow" parenting, friendship, or marriage ➡️Trying to fix other people's problems ➡️Over-functioning We care so deeply for our loved ones, and it...

" All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." ~ Ephesians 4:31-32 On the wedding day, most couples can't imagine ever treating their spouse with contempt. But in this broken world, we know that so many marriages suffer with bel...