In The Thicket

Wow! Two seasons have gone by so quickly!!! In this finale for season 2, we're looking back at some of the most impactful things we've loved about this season, and forward to what will be happening for each of us over the summer before we join you again for season 3!!! Check out the full show notes here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e30-season-finale-alpha-and-omega

This is the third and final episode from the "Our Stories" series. We wanted to take some time this season for you to get to know each of us a little more, and this week Nicole shares all about her experience with growing in patience through discerning her vocation. Full show notes available at: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e29-our-stories-patience

This is the final episode in our Lenten Series! We're talking about Psalm 22, which Jesus quotes while He is on the Cross. The words may be familiar, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachtani!," because they are part of the Palm Sunday and Good Friday liturgies, so we're diving into what they mean, and what they mean for us. Full show notes at: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e28-psalm-22

We're looking at Isaiah 52:13-53:12 for today's episode. It's all about the suffering servant, and what it means to sit in mystery and to wait for the insight that often comes only after the resolution of such a time of waiting. Full show notes available at: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e27-the-suffering-servant

This third episode in our Lenten series is all about two Greek words in the line from the Gospel of Mark, "Repent and believe the Good News." Metanoeite (repent) and pistuete (believe) have waaaaay wider meanings than we typically think of in the English translations of these words, and we talk all about it this week. https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e26-seeing-with-wider-vision

Today's episode is based in Numbers 21:4-9, and we're talking about how the source of our suffering becomes the focus of our faith. Check out the link below for our full show notes! https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e25-the-serpent-and-the-cross

The love of God is tender and merciful, especially in our places of brokenness - even when He's giving us some kind of correction. This week, we're talking about His gentleness in light of our brokenness. Full show notes at https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e24-the-gentleness-of-god

This year for our lenten series we are diving into scripture! Each week we will be reading and discussing a short biblical passage that speaks to our experiences of suffering and sacrifice, and inspires us to a greater receptivity to God's work in our hearts during this season of lent. This episode is all about Mary and the gift she is to each one of us as we take up our own crosses and follow the Lord.

This is the second episode in out series of three (spread out though the season) where each of us hosts has a turn in sharing about some of the sufferings that are part of our own lives. This episode, Rachael is sharing all about her journey in vulnerability. Full show notes available at: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s2e22-our-stories-vulnerability

In this episode we look at what it means to maintain and grow in relationships amidst a culture of division... and we are not talking about mamby pamby niceness that lets go of the strong convictions that we hold. True relationship is not about sacrificing what we believe to be true, but about upholding the dignity of our brothers and sisters and loving them so that we can continue to dig for the truth together.

Danica McKinnon is our guest to talk about the world of Catholic dating and what happened when she brought "The Dating Project" to her parish. Full show notes available at https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com

Fr. Chris Kellerman SJ joins us to talk about some of the hard things that are part of discernment, whether it's our vocations or something else. We talk about everything from bugs to rollercoasters as Fr. Chris helps us navigate the dips and valleys of this journey with God!

Mary Wilson is our guest this week to talk about her experience of going from full sighted to identifying as blind in her adulthood. She shares the challenges, but also the gifts that have come through her experiences.

We wanted to share a bit more deeply from our own stories in this second half of season 2 for those who don't know us personally! This first "Our Stories" episode is talking more about Erin Kinsella's journey with fibromyalgia. Full show notes available at: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com

It's 2022! The new year is often a time for resolutions, but can also be a time that highlights what is not changing in our lives, or the things that we have been trying to persevere in for awhile. This episode we talk about the pains that are part of perseverance in difficult things, and about the ways that we can hold on to hope!

Erin, Rachael, & Nicole share their experiences of waiting to know the love of God in a deeper way & reflect on the advent series.

Our wonderful friend Ania Krysciak joins us this week to talk about what it means for Christ to come again. We talk about time, Our Lady, Revelation, suffering, glory and more! This episode really gets us in the Advent mode as we make our way closer to Christmas, and it's fantastic!

There is often a lot of pain when we're waiting for God to speak or lead or move. On this second episode of our Advent series, we have a blast talking to Fr. Edmund Lo, a Jesuit priest who shares his journey and insight regarding discernment, and gives us some beautiful gems to reflect on while waiting on the Lord for clarity.

This whole episode is one amazing meta Godwink!! Our guest Sr. Miriam Heidland speaks so beautifully to us about the pain and beauty of inner healing, the kindness of Jesus, and the glory we were created for. We are incredibly grateful for the gift of this conversation and we hope it blesses you as much as it did us!!

We talk about the meaning of Christ's kingship and introduce our advent series on the pain of waiting. We hope you'll journey with us through the next few weeks to Christmas! Here are our upcoming shows: November 29th: Waiting for Healing with Sr. Miriam James Heidland December 6th: Waiting for Clarity with Fr. Edmund Lo December 13th: Waiting for Christ to Come Again with Ania Krysciak December 20th: Waiting for Love

Have you ever had the experience of being called to something and had Jesus call you away from it? The answer is probably yes, but one of the hardest places this can happen in with respect to vocations. It's not that uncommon...and it's even a very healthy sign...for men or women to "discern out" of the seminary or consecrated life. Julius Balita (@jbalita) is our guest this week, and he shares about his experience as a seminarian, and what it was like to have Jesus reveal to him that his vocation is not to the priesthood. We talk about how gently Jesus is able to reveal His will for us, and what a great mercy this is, because it can be incredibly hard at best and crushing at worst to find that we aren't called to something that we know is incredibly good. This conversation was such a blessing to us because Julius' journey at its heart is really about what it truly means to trust God with everything!

We speak about what it's like to walk alongside someone close to us who is going through difficulties in life.

Even though pretty much everyone has been knocked down by loneliness at some point in their lives, when we're deep in it, loneliness can make us feel ... well, completely alone! We hope that in sharing our experiences of loneliness, along with a few things we've learned, and found beneficial, we might help combat some of the lies that get thrown around when these particular blues hit! Loneliness can feel like an interior battle, and if you're fighting that battle right now, know that we are praying for you!

Marie and André went through almost a decade of struggling with infertility, which is a particular cross that reappears more or less every month. The cyclic pain, the loss of hope, and the call to spiritual motherhood and fatherhood in the waiting are all things they share with us in this episode. Their story is a call to hope for anyone experiencing a prolonged season suffering. We are so excited for you to hear this conversation- it was so very blessed! And we'll be praying this week in a special way for all those who are struggling with infertility.

In this episode our friends, James and Dawn Kautz, share candidly about some of the challenges that can arise in marriage, especially in the area of sexual intimacy. We talk about the wedding night, babies, marriage retreats and also how the crosses we encounter at the heart of our lives really challenge us to grow and depend more fully on the grace and mercy of God!

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Everyone!!! In this week's episode we get honest about gratitude! Even when it's hard to be grateful - and sometimes it really is - it is so worth it. We share our own struggles and stories with being grateful, and we hope they inspire you to discover or recover the beauty of an interior disposition of gratitude in your own life!

Jonathan Hilsden joined us to share about his journey with sobriety. We talk all about learning to face ourselves, what role feelings have in our response to pain, and the dynamics of self-medication.

Making and keeping friends is hard; relationships are tricky; and all of that has gotten stickier in post(ish)-pandemic life. Join us for this chat with our friend Katerina Leung, as we sift through the hilarious and painful reality of the socially awkward soup we are all swimming in right now. She shares some real gems for us reflect on, to help us reach out to others with courage, compassion and humility!

Conversations these days can be intense and divisive, and can leave you feeling ... well, crappy! This episode is all about growing in our capacity to enter into those tricky dialogues - we share the mistakes we've made, the challenges we've faced and a few things we've learned a long the way!

It's our second season!! We are Erin, Nicole, and Rachael - and together with our secret prayer warrior - we are so excited to dive into another year with you!! In the coming episodes we will be sharing experiences of God's love amidst challenges and sufferings in our own lives and the lives of our guests. We're also pretty goofy...so expect more than a few laughs along the way! What do lady-moustaches, tennis and transitions have in common... this episode!! Welcome to Season 2!!

Rachael, Erin, and Nicole discuss the podcast season that was, and share some exciting news about the upcoming year.

In this very open conversation, Erin, Nicole, and Rachael talk about insecurities, and our need to know deeply that we are loved by God.

We speak about the significance of the devotion to Divine Mercy in our lives. Full show notes here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e24-divine-mercy

We interview Rachael's aunty and uncle about their journey towards hope when facing cancer. Full show notes available here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e23-radical-hope

We talk about the Art of Dying ("Ars Moriendi"), specifically, about people we have known who have inspired us in the way they lived and died. Full show notes available here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e22-euthanasia-ars-moriendi-the-art-of-dying-2

We speak with Fr. John, a hospital chaplain in downtown Toronto, about his experiences accompanying people through suffering and dying. Full show-notes here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e21euthanasia-a-hospital-chaplain-speaks

We speak with Taylor Hyatt, who shares about her experiences living with cerebral palsy, and advocating for justice for disabled people in Canada. Full show notes here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e20-euthanasia-a-disability-rights-activist-speaks

This is the second episode in our Lenten euthanasia series. Bill C-7 is currently being considered by Canada's government - this Bill decreases safeguards for vulnerable people, and widens eligibility criteria. Our first episode was with Garnett Genuis, Member of Parliament, who took us through the background and current proposals surrounding MAiD (medical assistance in dying). This week, Dr. David D'Souza joins us to share about his experience as a physician involved in care of the elderly and palliative care, as well as his concerns regarding conscience rights in Canada. Full show notes here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e19euthanasia-a-physician-speaks

To compliment the early release of our first episode in this Euthanasia series, we decided to post a bonus episode this week, sharing some excerpts from Cardinal Thomas Collins addressing the topic in various contexts. The Cardinal's words have really helped and inspired us in facing this issue, and we hope they do the same for you!

As a team this Lent, we felt called to do a series of episodes on euthanasia. In this first instalment, we discuss why the topic strikes a deep chord in each of us, and Rachael interviews MP Garnett Genuis, to help us get informed and inspired! Garnett is a young Catholic Canadian politician who has worked tirelessly on this issue, to stand up for life, for conscience rights and for those most vulnerable to abuse in a world of legalized euthanasia. Right now in Canada, Bill C-7, which proposes radical expansion of access to euthanasia, is being debated in the House of Commons - and could become law very shortly. With this bill on the table, there is an urgent need for us to act. Garnett articulates the reasons why everyone, even people who support euthanasia, should be concerned by the extremity of these recent amendments. He inspires us with his example and words to do whatever we can to fight for the truth, and for those most vulnerable. We hope that all Canadians who oppose these changes will speak up against this Bill in the next few days. At the end of the episode Garnett provides many ways in which this can be done! Check out our website for the relevant links and more suggestions! For our international listeners, we hope this episode will inspire you to work proactively in your own country to build a culture of life, and we ask for your prayers! https://www.garnettgenuismp.ca/no_same_day_death Full show notes here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e18euthanasia-a-politician-speaks

We interview Pete Burak (of Renewal Ministries' young adult ministry, "ID") on the relationship between wounds and our call to evangelize. Full show notes here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e17-suffering-and-mission

Kristene Mauss is a Catholic mom and instagram personality (@thefutureisfamily) who lost her husband in 2020. In this episode, Kristine shares about her ongoing experience of going through grief and persevering in hope. Full show notes available here, on our website.

Erin, Rachael, & Nicole talk about the highs and lows in their experiences of Valentine's Day.  Full show notes available here: www.inthethicketpodcast.com

We discuss the meaning of the oft-used Catholic phrase "offer it up." Full show notes available here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e14-offer-it-up

We speak with Rachel Wong, of the Feminine Genius Podcast, about her experience with anxiety and depression, and how God has led her to acceptance and new beginnings. Full show notes available here: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e13-suffering-mental-health-anxiety-and-depression

We interview Liam, who shares about his journey suffering from OCD. Full show notes available here: on our website.

We speak with Trisha, whose unexplained illness forced her to completely change her career trajectory. Full show notes, including links to Trisha's social media pages, available here: On our website.

Rachael, Erin, & Nicole talk about the year that was, and choose a word of the year for 2021. Full show notes and links to the books we discuss available here: www.inthethicketpodcast.com

Rachael, Erin, and Nicole each play an original song and discuss how these songs relate to the ways God was present during struggles. Full show notes and a link to Nicole's Youtube channel available here on our website: www.inthethicketpodcast.com

In this episode, we discuss what it's like to face difficulties during what is supposed to be a joyful time, and talk about how we can respond to this both as one who suffers, and also when we see someone else struggling. Full show notes available here on our website: www.inthethicketpodcast.com

We discuss an excerpt from the writings of St. John of the Cross: And I saw the river over which every soul must pass to reach the kingdom of heaven and the name of that river was suffering: and I saw a boat which carries souls across the river and the name of that boat was love. Full show notes available at: https://www.inthethicketpodcast.com/s/stories/s1e7river-of-suffering-st-john-of-the-cross-out-december-14-3