Finding God

If you know me, you know fitness has been a part of my story (as is the case for many people). While I'm dedicated to this lifestyle, I definitely I have a love/hate relationship with it. Health and fitness can be both an obsession and a lesson. A healthy lifestyle or a disordered one. I've done both. In this episode you'll hear me speaking from personal experience, and from the heart, to take on this phenomenon and appearance based lifestyle of fitness. I talk about the goodness but also the fears that motivate me in all of this. Stay tuned

An awesome episode interviewing some “speciale” guests; Mary and (Fr.) Mike Speziale to talk about the power and uplifting gift of God's goodness in His special needs children. Mary talks about her life with Down syndrome and Fr. Mike talks about how being Mary's sister made his life (and the lives of others) so much more joyful than it already is. Listen in to hear all of Mike and Mary's goodness! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

A quick lesson on Boundaries in light of our ability to love well.

A lifelong Christian debate, judging others. I think somewhere I missed the mark on what Jesus expects of us when it comes to (a very human tendency) judgment. You'll be surprised what Jesus actually calls us to do with this information… he's brutally honest and has a lot of self-care to teach us.

From the wisdom and life lessons of the beloved Louisa May Alcott novel, Little Women comes a conversation on the journey each woman makes for her freedom, purpose, and becoming. Joined by the incredible Natalie Graveley, this chat dives into some of the deepest questions a woman's heart ponders when it comes to becoming her truest self and choosing the best man to love and marry.

What truly is inner freedom? Do you know people who are free? Not people who are confident and cool but people who are truly free and able to choose the good for themselves and others with no ulterior motives. The truth is, we are bound to many limitations in life and many different narratives for happiness and freedom. We truly won't be free if someone or something is holding us down and limiting our lives… even if it's something like our own anger and perfectionism. The main goal of freedom is knowing that your goodness will not — cannot — heal yourself or another person. SO! Here's a practical tip for freedom that will change your life. I guarantee if you practice it, you will get results.

So many people have a wounded relationship with the Catholic Church. It's okay to admit it. It's okay to share that with God. It's okay to admit that an institution has hurt you, just like a relationship. But what's not okay is to never talk about it and let it fester within you for years and years without resolve. Maybe you have also met people who have hurt your opinion of Jesus and who He really is. They may have preached God but they sure don't act like God. The truth is, Jesus befriended and met the same kind of people! They were trying to teach him who God was and He was like “lol well I am God, sooo.” And we can find many people who say they love God but haven't really convinced us or influenced us to participate in it the same way. Jesus' whole personality and truth showed everyone how wrongly they were acting, and he gave us the same gift of discernment to be able to sniff out the same phonies.

Within the last 8 years, I've noticed that our society has become so obsessed with fitness culture. I fell into the culture/mindset that fitness was the center, the core, the be-all-end-all of my identity. It was what empowered me and made me feel confident so what could possibly be wrong? Tune in to hear how it left me so unhappy, constantly comparing myself to others, and obsessed. Fitness influencers, gym-rats, instructors, just being an avid member of the gym can become a destructive and obsessive, compulsive behavior if we don't catch it and balance it. It's not normal to go to the gym for 2 hours. It's not about obsession, it's about balance. Let's (finally) start talking about it. *Men and women are welcome to listen but the second half of the episode is for just the women! all about how to “exercise” the spiritual and biological aspects of the woman's body: through emotions and desires, and menstrual cycle regulation.*

Have you ever wondered what God is saying? Do you try and talk to Him and never seem to get a response back? The truth is, everyday God finds a unique and creative way to communicate to you His love for you. Sometimes its loud and clear, other times it's subtle and beautiful, like a sunset. Either way, it always brings peace to the soul. Don't doubt it or spend any more time wondering if it really is Him, respond, receive, and listen! Here how:

The hit show Ted Lasso is moving the hearts of viewers everywhere and it's hard to find one person who has not fallen in love with all the characters. In this episode, joined by colleague and friend, John Turner, we talk about the goodness that is, Ted Lasso. *warning: episode contains show spoilers!* --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Who doesn't love a good story!? I realized how much I forget the Gospel stories of Jesus are like episodes of a TV show not just a textbook. There's life discussions, morals, drama, heros, villains, great relatable personalities, and lots of time for re-runs! Tune into these bonus episodes to meditate, laugh, and feel your heart move for who Jesus really is… this week, I read and unpack John 2, The Wedding Feast at Cana. This is the scene of Jesus' first miracle. As May closes (the month to honor Mary) let us remember how powerful she is to our faith journey and how compassionate she is towards our needs. Jesus wants to give us “more wine.”

Our life is what our thoughts make it. In this episode I unpack the science and scripture of thinking and how it takes the shape within us. Whether their positive, negative, healthy, or unhealthy, they tell us a story about who we are and where God wants to meet us. Thoughts can lead us to love and God or far from it — and a lot of it is our within our control. For health, healing, and love, listen in to hear how our thoughts give knowledge to who we are and who God is. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Who doesn't love a good story!? I realized how much I forget the Gospel stories of Jesus are like episodes of a TV show not just a textbook. There's life discussions, morals, drama, heros, villains, great personalities in the characters, and lots of room for re-runs! Tune into these bonus episodes to meditate, laugh, and feel your heart move for who Jesus really is… John 21: that time when Jesus revealed himself to his disciples after the resurrection because he knew the gang went fishing for the night…

Looking to get further in self-awareness? If you know what false beliefs, or narratives you are believing about about who you are and who God is. It's good and healthy to have doubts, questions, and curiosity about life, truth, God, and yourself… but you don't have to keep living in an unhealthy, negative voice of critics, lies, insecurity, and a deprivation of God's goodness. Jesus saves you from the darkness you believe about yourself, the first step is identifying what it is you believe about yourself. There are three parts to this episode: the orphan spirit (what lies you believe about God), the inner critical voice (what lies other people have said about us/made you believe), and the inner voice (what lies you have consented to). Hope, healing, and grace and waiting to be released over you!

There is so much talk about healing today. There are so many practical tools to embrace a healing journey, and today I am talking about the one where we let ourselves be loved by God in our woundedness. We can go to God in full honesty and know that He is providing a way to heal us so specifically, and so gently. Give God permission, today, to heal. He will not do anything you don't give Him permission to do because He is love and love never forces. He only proposes, and here's what He wants us to hear.

The rise in using crystals, healing rituals like reiki and mediums are actually bad for our souls. They make themselves look good and healing but if their power doesn't come from God, then where is it coming from? And what is it doing to us? Jesus warned us that the enemies of this world are the powers and principalities that damage our souls and it is in these practices that the powers and principalities He was speaking of are manifesting in our bodies. The root of the issue is trust. Trust is harder than control so we take matters into our own hands to try and control our tomorrows. If you're looking to go back to the heart of The Father: If you're Catholic, go to confession. If you're Christian, repent. Jesus' washes us clean of anything we participated in if we simply ask for His forgiveness. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The world has so many thoughts, desires, and attitudes about sex. Is there any truth in it? Are we more than just animals that indulge in sex however we want? We have access to sexual content everywhere but how many of us are really experiencing true love? How do we even understand God and His plan for us and our sexual desires. May this episode spark something deeper in you than what you've been settling for by letting the truth of His words set you free! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

There is a blueprint to humanity that we haven't been taught in detail. Human needs are wide and deep, and the medicine we might need is more simple than the addictions and over the counter drugs and supplements. if we understand what our needs are, we're able to deepen our interactions with God, ourselves, and others. Isn't that what we all crave!

Does God tell me who to marry? Does God have someone predestined for me? How do we cooperate with him in our desire for lifelong committed love? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The two questions we spend a lifetime unpacking are, who am I …&… what is my purpose. Let's unpack a little of that together.

In this episode I list all the ways women are actually doing more harm than good to their being. How do we find more truth and beauty? How do we attract better men? How do we stop fearing men? Women crave love and connection but often search for it in the wrong places. In the search for love we end up finding loneliness, darkness, addiction, abuse, hurt, wounds, hustle, and comparison. Listen in to find freedom and hope from the most damaging beliefs.

Call it marriage prep, call it dating advice, call it relationship discernment, but I call it “the road to real love.” What causes us to settle? What causes us to not see that we're settling? What kind of relationships are we made for? Who you choose to spend the rest of your life with changes your entire mind, body, and soul. Knowing God never wants you to settle for less than what you deserve in love rests in your ability to choose. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

God has a plan for your life and fear will distract you from it. Fear can take over our whole heart and mind, if we let it. Here's the goodness you need to overcome it! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Everyone has a story to tell when it comes to personal suffering. Where is God in it all? (Start episode at 16:00 for the definition of suffering). --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Intimacy is all being naked and exposed, but not the sexual way. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

All of us carry memories and experiences of rejection within. And all of us have, without intending to, rejected someone. Let's dive into it with more life changing, transformative, ways they just brushing it off and managing it. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Is authentic connection with self and others even happening for us? Maybe we think it is but there's always room for more! Our identity is more than what we absorb. We are experiencing a ton of chaos within and within our relationships and the remedy is right in here in this episode. Whether it's your romantic relationship or your work life or the other relationships in your life tune in for how to find deeper connection.

I refuse to ever support an issue that harms the lives of women and children.

A lost ability in a world of devices, distractions, and substances is spending meaningful time alone. Here's a practical agenda for uncovering the depths of your identity through meaningful prayer, moments, and goals. You can take these tips to the solitude of nature, your bedroom, or in a chapel. The gift of this world and creation is yours.

Many of us live life to be able to say, “at least I've done it!” Or, “I just have to get through it and I'll be happy.” Many of us feel insufficient if we have not done certain things with our life at this point in time. Our social lives have become for the sake of photos of events, not enjoying events, and saying “at least I've done it!” Or, “I just have to get through it and I'll be happy.” ... The truth is, this mental belief system can stop us from enjoying life for what life is. Removing that mindset can even allow us to enjoy suffering and pain. The overall quality of life has not been damaged, but our ability to enjoy has been damaged ~ and this can be a place of deep transformation from Jesus.

In this episode, I give you a litany of reasons why I don't have a good relationship with social media. While I can see the absolute good of social media... I still cannot stand it. *Warning: super vulnerable for this one*

The Glorious Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Wednesday & Sunday. They are meditations the the fullness of life Jesus won for us. It is our reminder that He can fill us with a life of awakened beauty, and glory.

The Sorrowful Mysteries are traditionally prayed on Tuesdays & Fridays. Here we meditate on the death of Jesus.

Joyful Mysteries are traditionally prayed with on Mondays & Saturdays. Meditate on 5 of Mary's joyful stories leading up to Jesus' birth and childhood.

How do I know what God wants for me? How do I know what will make me happy? How can I choose a path of purpose, love, and goodness? Tune it. This is gooood stuff. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Kevin Kozeniewski (youth minister) and I talk about our God-given nature, how we have come to understand our gender, how we have been wounded by men and women, attraction, sex, physical boundaries, rejection, and eternal life and ultimate perfection of heaven. It's a good one - don't miss it! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

What is serial monogamy? Chances are you know a serial monogamist... that person that jumps from one committed relationship to the next with little time in between. I am joined by my coworker, and English teacher, John Turner.

“I’m disgusting.” / “I’m ugly.” / “I’m unlovable.” / these are some of the most uncomfortable thoughts and beliefs we could have about our body. Discomfort can also feel like those extra pounds, and feeling guilty for not taking care of yourself. Discomfort is just all the kinds of insecurities and darknesses we feel about ourselves. We don’t need more solutions on better behaviors like “calorie counting” or workouts, no we need a connection back to the design of who we are. How we feel is not how God feels about us — and that is our resurrection! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

“We’re all bored. We’re all so tired of everything.” Romanticism has kinda(sorta) lost its passion and “heartbreak the National anthem” all of a sudden? ...huh...? boredom is my biggest fear. Boredom is convincing us love isn’t enough, but danger, sin, and thrills are more important than authenticity. Recklessness, out of control emotions and desires have not fulfilled us yet. God created all things finite — only He is infinite, and He’s what we need. We’re invited to a banquet of love and we choose everything else instead. The result = boredom.

Who are you when you’re not comparing yourself to others? What are you about? Who do you long to be? When you’re not scrolling, researching another diet fad, feeling thoughts of jealousy, addictions to food, work, and shows... ugh! We [women especially] are not meant to live by learning standards from others, and a set of rules to “do” for happiness, but we were created for restoration and release — which is the key that unlocks true beauty. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Catholics, Christians, and non-believers alike have all wrestled with what a life of having faith in Jesus is actually like. None of that means the life of a Christian is unrealistic. It’s not impractical—It’s the best thing we could ever choose. What gets in the way is how and where we focus our day-to-day life. Tune in for more and hello season 4! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Shannon talks about practical ways you can receive real peace and joy this holiday season in light of fears of family parties, and upsets within relationships. Listen in for her 3 tips and how to find Jesus in all of life’s holiday messiness. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Raise your hand if you’ve had a “I’m never finding my person!” pity-party

Oof. This is a deep one. Thank goodness for our guest, Mackenzie Kephart, a vibrant young college student (making makes her first public speaking debut!) talking about the elephant in the room: loneliness. How do we heal from this unavoidable wound and fear? And why is it so common on college campuses!?

Healing needs to happen because we have been deprived of Love. Listen in for how Shannon healed from expecting other people to be what she needed them to be for her, and to be that ideal person for herself. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Here’s some more goodness on the topic of intimacy, dating, commitment, relationships, and how much is too much to share online and with others. You’ll gain so much insight and joy from the incredible, Santonio Hill. He touches on the heart of a man, his own stories, pornography, dating, and how God working in men and women. Santonio is an energetic man of God. He’s newly engaged and is a missionary for Vagabond Missions. Kickback for his awesome Goodness. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

A 10 minute episode of straight FACTS to get you out of the cycle of madness, insecurity, and exhausting mental energy and into the sincere goodness of health and fitness. Don’t settle for lies!

Author Lindsey Todd is back to talk about her new novel, Closure. Listen to this riveting podcast about finding self-love in, through, and during (or without) a romantic relationship. Lindsey and Shannon discuss what self-love really is, what fears it brings us, and how to stand up for ourselves (which isn’t selfish!).. Lindsey even reads an excerpt from her new novel, which illustrates all these themes. Talk about GOODNESS.

(The gorgeous newlywed) Katelyn is here this week to talk about the significance of waiting for the right person to date and eventually marry. She touches on toxicity in romance, not settling, and the story of how God wrote her love story. Talk about pure GOODNESS. Forget all the messages the world tells you about dating, this is the GOOD stuff. I promise you, you’ll feel refreshed after listening.

For Natalie, dance is her first language. Dancing for 30 years evolved her heart, mind, body, and soul in so many GOOD ways. Listen in the hear her words as a gift of passion, and expression. Dancing isn’t so much about the talent, as it is the joy of dancing. It’s an energy boost needed for the human person. The awakening dance does to bring the Spirit into liveliness is so hard to find, but we can choose to create it.

If you find your present reality isn’t meeting your expectations, this episode is a small light on sneaky things like “mental escape” — mental fantasy— mental illusions, that can leave us restless and living without peace in the present moment. You’re not lost. You’re not living a bad life, you may just need to start seeing what Goodness God is calling you to, or trying to give you.