Plugged In - The Official Podcast for JSerra Catholic High School

JSerra Catholic High School has had nearly tripled its average number of student converts to the Catholic faith in the past five years, with 130 baptisms since 2016 and almost 100 of those since 2021. In this insightful podcast, JSerra's OCIA leader, Sr. Miriam, shares her five essential ingredients to building a culture of discipleship in a Catholic school that teens find attractive and that maximize their determination to give their lives to Christ.

Host Pat Reidy had the unique opportunity to sit down to an intimate conversation with Jonathan Roumie in front of a small, live JSerra audience while Jonathan was on campus in August of 2024. The audio of their interview is presented here in its entirety. With both laughter and poignancy, The Chosen actor explains his work and hobbies prior to acting, the crisis moment that led to his total surrender to Christ, and how God's miraculous response to that prayer landed him his first lead role after a 20-year struggle in Hollywood. With humility, sincerity, and approachability, Jonathan discusses why his faith is the center of his life and how playing the role of Jesus has revolutionized not only his career, but his entire life. Jonathan Roumie spent 20 years in Hollywood playing minor roles and doing voice overs when the creator of the hit Christian series, The Chosen, with whom Jonathan had previously work, called and asked Jonathan if he was, “ready to put the sandals back on.” That moment changed the struggling actor's career. The Chosen is the first ever crowdfunded streaming series and has come to be known and loved by Catholics and Christians across the world. Many fans and critics call Jonathan's version of Jesus “the best in any film or television depiction.” Jonathan grew up in a first-generation American family on the east coast and was raised Catholic. His depiction of Jesus demonstrates a personal intimacy with Christ that comes through in the humanity and accessibility he lends to the role. Jonathan talks about this aspect of learning how to play Jesus, from his prayer life to his being overwhelmed to be associated with the God whom he loves and serves. Besides The Chosen, the actor is also known for his role as evangelist Lonnie Frisbee in the 2023 film Jesus Revolution and in the soon-to-be-released Heart of a Servant. He is also a voice artist and a sought-after public speaker, particularly on the Catholic Conference circuit.

Dr. Brett Salkeld has become a leader in the work of integrating Catholic principles across disciplines within Catholic schools. But what does that actually look like? And why is it important at all? As Dr. Salkeld asked these questions himself and tried to articulate a response, he realized that although a lot of people were already doing this work in Catholic schools, there was no written resource to assist them. Embracing the challenge, he wrote the book himself. Since then, he has been visiting dioceses and schools across the country conducting workshops on how to involve God in every discipline, which he discovered, not only increases students' joy for learning, but connects every subject back to its source, the person of Jesus Christ. In this podcast, Dr. Salkeld explains how teachers and school leaders can embark upon this critical project for the good of their students, and how parents can parallel the school's work at home. Together, he shows us enthusiastically how to cultivate virtuous young men and women who will have a transformational impact on the culture.

Steve Minnis took over a struggling Catholic college with not much more than a lot of vision and a lot of prayer. Twenty years later, Benedictine College has made its mark as one of the top Catholic schools of higher education in America. In this candid podcast, President Minnis shares the three major decisions recent sociological findings show young people make while in college and explains why some colleges have a better influence on those three decisions than others. You don't want to miss Steve Minnis' experience-driven wisdom and his practical college-application-worthy advice.

Mother Assumpta and Sister Joseph Andrew, two of the four foundresses of the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, join the podcast to talk about the beauty of Catholic education and what makes their Sisters so apt for teaching in and transforming Catholic schools not only in theology classrooms but in every discipline. The Sisters explain what makes Catholic education so essential today and why religious sisters as spiritual mothers have a unique charism for leading young people to Jesus Christ, the ultimate goal and purpose of Catholic schools. Mother Mary Assumpta Long, OP, is a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and the former (and first) prioress general of the order, ensuring the sisters' spiritual, physical, and educational needs were met. She was a driving force behind the founding of the order in 1997 and led the community for nearly 25 years. She has a STL in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. She has also taught at the elementary, secondary, and junior college levels.  Sr. Joseph Andrew is one of the four founders of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor, Michigan and serves as Vocations Director of the community. Sister Joseph Mary lectures on topics related to religious life and theology, speaking at youth conferences, parishes, and on Catholic radio and social media to high school and university students, religious women, priests, and seminarians alike.

According to Dr. Peter Kilpatrick, Catholic Education is distinct not only in that it offers classes in theology or “religion.” Integration of the curricular and co-curricular is the true hallmark of Catholicism. That means that in Catholic schools – and especially Catholic universities – the goal should be much more than skills building for a future profession and even more than character formation. The ultimate purpose of Catholic education is to guide students into a deeper recognition and understanding of God's revelation of the true, good, and beautiful across all disciplines and in every arena of human life. Dr. Kilpatrick articulates this and discloses the unique way that the Catholic University of America executes on this noble educational venture. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Peter K. Kilpatrick was appointed president of The Catholic University of America in March 2022 and took office on July 1, 2022. His prior roles are numerous. He served as provost and senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Illinois Institute of Technology and previously as professor and McCloskey Dean of Engineering for ten years at the University of Notre Dame. He launched Notre Dame's first joint Ph.D. program with the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, later expanding to programs with universities in Brazil and Hungary.  Dr. Kilpatrick also served on the faculty of North Carolina State University in chemical engineering for 24 years, from 1983 to 2007, the last eight-plus years as the department head. Dr. Kilpatrick also served as the founding director of the North Carolina Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center. He is the author of more than 100 refereed journal articles in the areas of colloid and interfacial science, emulsion science, and molecular self assembly, particularly as they apply to energy and to bioseparations. His work has been cited more than 5,300 times and he holds or shares 12 patents. He received his A.B. in chemistry from Occidental College (summa cum laude) in 1978 and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1983. He and his wife, Nancy, are the parents of four adult children. 

From Florida to Los Angeles, from public schools to private, school cell phone bans are on the rise. Is this just fear mongering? Is there any sound evidence to support radical school policies such as secure cell phone lockers for all students? Dr. Leonard Sax and his 17-year old daughter, Sarah,s share their opinion on no-cell-phone zones and answer the most common objections from students, parents, and teachers.

Cara Morales returns to the JSerra podcast studio, this time to share with parents of teen and tween girls the causes of and solutions to a growing social epidemic: mean girls. Having spoken to the entire JSerra female student population, Cara shares her approach to reaching the hearts of young women who are often both suffering from and contributing to the mean girl culture. In her trademark manner, Cara analyzes some of the major causes of the sharp spike in nastiness among young female teens with laser-like precision and offers insights that can help parents and educators curb this ever-growing American phenomenon.

In his sixth appearance on the podcast, Dr. Leonard Sax takes on what it means for parents to be the first and most important educators of their children. “Kids are not born knowing what's right and what's wrong,” attests Dr. Sax. Accordingly, parents serve the foundational role in the life of their sons and daughters of teaching them how to live well, that is, how to live virtuously. As always, Dr. Sax offers insights that will embolden parents of adolescents and younger children alike to embrace the primacy of their God-given role as their kids' most necessary and respected role models, while suggesting practical tips for shaping the minds and hearts of their sons and daughters with confidence.

Adolescence does not end when young men and women go off to college. In a sense, their education for life has only just begun. That's why it is crucial to send our sons and daughters to universities that understand how to complete the comprehensive education they need to live a flourishing life. Join University of Dallas President Jonathan J. Sanford as he talks to parents about the essential role the college years play in forming young men and women of virtue, and what makes some Catholic colleges and universities more suited for that than others.

Every parent and every educator who has tried knows that getting teenagers interested in daily prayer requires perseverance and a commitment to the long game. Getting Gen Z-ers to put down the cell phones and turn to contemplation makes that task even more daunting. Now they don't have to give up one for the other. Hear Hallow App co-founder, Alessandro DiSanto, walk us through the genius of the technology that is marrying social media and the interior life and helping millions to return to Christ through prayer. Alessandro explains the personal crises that led him and two friends to begin seeking God at a deeper level, why he believes they were able to create a platform that would resonate with over 14 million subscribers, and the warp speed with which Hallow has taken not only the Catholic world, but the digital world by storm.

“You don't build the house; you give them the foundation.” In this inspiring podcast, the “Dynamic Deacon” and father of five outlines practical tips for how to build your sons' and daughters' spiritual muscle memory. Engaging, entertaining, deep, and practical! Listen to Deacon Harold, the “Dynamic Deacon,” as he coaches parents in concrete ways to lay the foundation for their sons' and daughters' growth in personal maturity. Pulling from talking points he shared the evening before in his presentation to JSerra parents, Deacon extrapolates on: What ;”e Church means when it calls parents “educators”; the importance of one-on-one time with children as well as weekly family time; modelling Christ-like behavior; taking full advantage of “teachable moments”; and the what and the why of discipline in the life of our kids. You will walk away from this conversation edified, inspired, and full of ideas for how to be the primary educator your children need… and God made you to be!

In this second part of our series on, “Parents as Primary Educators,” Catholic school leader, Debbie Nearmeyer, shares some basics on how to move forward confidently in our vocation as mothers and fathers. In this second episode of “Parents as Primary Educators,” mother of five and Vice President of Faith and Mission, Debbie Nearmeyer, elucidates with detail the meaning of being a “primary educator.” With gentleness, depth, and humor, Debbie explains what it means to educate in the real sense of the word , while sharing examples from home and school life that serve to make the task realistically accessible. Tune in to this month's podcast and hear how Debbie steers parents towards success and fulfillment in their number one vocation.

In this first episode in our series on “Parents as Primary Educators,” former JSerra teacher and personal counselor, Cara Morales, LMFT, explains why that is more than an overused cliché. Cara attests that God has chosen all moms and dads as the ones he has specifically ordained to raise the children he has given them. And she assures them that He will also provide the help needed to fulfill that unique responsibility. With an eye to the practical, Cara shares tips on how to parent through the trying teenage years with confidence, serenity, and fruitful results. Always original and engaging, Cara recommends concrete steps parents can take to stay connected to their teens even while they seem to be pulling away, and to ensure they remain their kids' number one confidants.

On this month's episode of Plugged In, Emily Wilson talks about the difficulties she faced as a young Catholic woman going off to an enormous public university with the goal of keeping her faith and her ideals intact. As she faced those difficulties head on and navigated those challenges, Emily found her faith and her convictions intensifying. Those experiences shaped a desire in her to help other young women prepare for the onslaught of temptations and the assaults on faith and moral principles that characterize so much of college campus life today. Emily's practical advice for parents of young women (and for high schoolers themselves) inspired hope that it is indeed possible to thrive in college without forsaking the Christian beliefs and values you hold dear.

Is resilience as important as everyone is saying? According to the studies, yes, but perhaps not in the way you think. Why are so few teens unwilling to take risks? And what are the consequences for a generation that lives by the fabricated rules of “safety-ism”? How does the lack of resilience in teen boys play into their susceptibility to today's most paralyzing addiction: pornography use? Join renowned author, speaker, physician, and psychologist, Dr. Leonard Sax, and his daughter Sarah Sax on this special edition of Plugged In, as they share about Sarah's extreme summer adventure and the real-life lessons that pushing a teen to such limits provides.

“Parents," says Fr. Mike Schmitz, “are the prototype.” In this lively conversation, Fr. Mike shares about what inspired his vocation and gives parents advice on how they can best equip their children to be life-long disciples of Christ. With his well-known wit and wisdom, Fr. Mike talks about his call to the priesthood, his work with college students, and the origins of his media ministry and #1 Spotify podcasts. Always determined to lead by example, he explains how parents can best pass on the faith by looking at their own practice and devotion, and by trusting in the God who loves their children more than they do. Don't miss this special edition on Plugged In! ABOUT THE GUEST Fr. Mike Schmitz is the Chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He is best known for his series of short videos on faith and culture by Ascension Press and for being the host of two of the top religious podcasts of all time: The Bible in A Year and The Catechism in a Year. He has published several books, including How to Make Great Decisions and Untroubled by the Unknown: Trusting God in Every Moment. Fr. Mike speaks around the country to a variety of audiences but places a high priority on the young adults he is called to serve on campus.

Parents have never been busier. Professional responsibilities, kids' schedules, and non-stop extracurricular events can make the idea of creating a family culture seem almost impossible. Lisa Hendey came to that same conclusion. Married to a successful doctor, flourishing in her own career, and trying to raise two children, she realized something had to give. In fact something had: it was family time. On this episode of Plugged In, full-time professional and fuller-time mom Lisa Hendey explains what it took to "put first things first" in her own family life and walks us through the struggles, challenges, and ultimate triumphs she speaks and writes about across the nation. Sober, humble, and hopeful, she shares how she and her husband prioritized family without compromising a full life outside the home. ABOUT THE GUEST Lisa Hendey is a best-selling author, speaker, radio producer, and podcast host. She is the founder of CatholicMom.com, the host of "Lisa Hendey and Friends" and the co-host of "Catholic MomCast." Her books include The Grace of Yes, I'm a Saint in the Making, The Handbook for Catholic Moms, and I Am God's Storyteller. Lisa's fiction series for children, called Chime Travelers, has been read in elementary schools and Church groups worldwide. While maintaining a thriving career, Lisa raised two children in a faith-filled home -- something she sees as her greatest joy and accomplishment.

Arthur C. Brooks has done the homework on happiness. The tenured Harvard Business professor, who is also a best-selling author and sought-after speaker, shares with us the secrets to finding true and lasting happiness — the scientific way. In this full-length recording of a talk he delivered recently to the JSerra community, Brooks lays out the facts about happiness according to brain science, facts that may surprise many of us. The good news is happiness is not as hard to attain as we imagine. Tune in to this entertaining and transformational presentation with the potential to change your way of looking at life. ABOUT THE GUEST Arthur C. Brooks is the William Henry Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness. He is also a columnist at The Atlantic, where he writes the popular weekly “How to Build a Life” column. Brooks is the author of 12 books, including the 2022 #1 New York Times bestseller From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life. He speaks to audiences all around the world about human happiness, and works to raise well-being within private companies, universities, public agencies, and community organizations. His upcoming book, co-written with Oprah Winfrey, will explain why suffering is necessary for ultimate happiness.

For Dr. John Boyle, co-founder of the Catholic Studies program at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, not all books are made equal. Tune in as he explains why reading for reading's sake is not enough, and why reading the right books matters. In this extraordinary insightful conversation, Dr. Boyle explains why books impact who we become, and gives parents tips for determining what makes a book "good." His explanation may surprise you!   ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Boyle is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He holds a Licentiate in Mediaeval Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto and a Ph.D. in Medieval Studies from the University of Toronto.   His published works on the thought of Thomas Aquinas are many; among them are Master Thomas Aquinas and the Fulness of Life and The Order and Division of Divine Truth: St. Thomas Aquinas as Scholastic Master of the Sacred Page. Aquinas on Scripture: A Primer will be available later this fall from Emmaus Academic.   His awards and honors include a National Endowment for the Humanties Fellowship, the Aquinas Medal from the University of Dallas, and he has delivered the Aquinas Lecture at the National University of Ireland.   Dr. Boyle lives in St. Paul with his wife, Dia; they have three grown children.

Fentanyl is now the number one cause of death among American adolescents. Declared a national emergency by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the alarming rise of this drug is that much more precarious due to its deceptive nature and its overpowering addictive qualities. Fifty times more potent than heroine and one hundred times stronger than morphine, the tiniest dose of Fentanyl has lethal implications. Tune into this sobering interview with Orange County Sheriff's drug education expert and learn what parents can do to protect their sons and daughters from this growing threat. ABOUT THE GUEST Sergeant Brian Gunsolley is a 23-year Orange County Sheriff's Department veteran with experience working in Corrections, Patrol, and Critical Incident Response Team, as well as serving as a Field Training Officer, Drug Liaison Officer, DUI Task Force member, and School Resource Officer. Sergeant Gunsolley currently supervises the Community Engagement Unit, responsible for providing safety education for schools and the general community. Sergeant Gunsolley has a BA in Economics from UCLA and a Master of Science degree in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego.

In this recording of a recent talk given by Fr. Robert Spitzer, the famed author, television host, and international advisor gets into the nitty gritty of the most contentious moral controversies confronting American young people today. With his trademark brilliance-made-simple, Fr. Spitzer identifies the undergirding bases of several modern moral stances and counters each one point by point with clarity and persuasion. Buckle up for this exhilarating, high-speed presentation that will have you on the edge of your seat and eager for more! About Fr. Robert SpitzerFr. Robert Spitzer is a Jesuit priest, the former president of Gonzaga University, and former Rector of JSerra Catholic High School. Fr. has authored over 10 books and made innumerable media appearances including The History Channel PBS series (multi-part series entitled Closer to the Truth), the Today Show (debating euthanasia), and Larry King Live(debating Stephen Hawking). His myriad of published articles has appeared in major publications Philosophy and Science and the Business and Professional Ethics Journal. Fr. Spitzer has spoken the world over, including addressing government officials in Costa Rica, Tony Blair's Cabinet in London, and on both sides of the conflict in Northern Ireland. He is the founder of numerous major national institutes such as Magis Center, Spitzer Center, and Healing the Culture. Additionally, Fr. has produced multiple television series for EWTN, most recently Fr. Spitzer's Universe. Fr. Spitzer has been a frequent speaker at JSerra and a regular presider at our all-school and Baccalaureate Masses.

In this episode of Plugged In, Dr. Leonard Sax and his 16-year old daughter Sarah explore the factors contributing to America's current "culture of disrespect." They answer questions such as: What's different about today's teen culture and why does it matter? How much social media is too much? Does limiting your child's social media use make any significant impact? Is TikTok good for my son or daughter? Is there evidence to support decisions around these issues or is all just guesswork? Tune in for the answers to these questions and many more on this month's episode of Plugged In.

Sr. Maria Catherine wasn't always a Jesus fan. Far from it. Before meeting Christ, she was an actress who was involved in a host of non-Christian practices and thought Christianity and its "superstitious belief system" would be the last thing she would ever give in to. Then something changed — dramatically. Tune in to hear how this now deeply committed religious sister took the long road to Christ. In this dynamic podcast, Sr. Maria Catherine shares in depth about her miraculous journey from black magic to the foot of the Cross. You won't believe it until you hear it! ABOUT THE GUEST Sr. Maria Catherine, O.P. is from the great state of Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she worked in various industries but mainly banking and administration before entering the convent. Sister has traveled widely and has been one of a few representatives of her community on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a published author in the Catholic San Francisco, The Imaginative Conservative, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. She loves teaching English and Theology and continues to be grateful for the opportunity to study Aquinas at Ave Maria University. She is currently teaching English at JSerra Catholic High School.

Students struggle in school for a variety of reasons. How do parents recognize when their son or daughter's academic struggle deserves expert attention? How do they help their teenage child to overcome the stigma associated with learning challenges? In this mini-podcast, JSerra's Director of Learning and Academic Support, Drew Clute, tackles a topic which is touching upon more and more parents via their teenagers' academic experience. Drew steps us through the methods and the means parents and teachers can use together in order to hearten young people facing academic trials and arm them with the tools to bring them through with confidence and success. ABOUT THE GUEST Drew Clute is the Director of Learning and Academic Support at JSerra where he oversees multiple programs that provide support for various student groups on campus. Drew earned a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration Fresno State University (2006) and a certificate in serving under-privileged and at-risk youth. In 2010 he complete his M.A. in Secondary Education, as well as two credentials in social studies and mild-moderate special education. Drew spent six years teaching special education, History, Economics, and US Government in Fresno before coming to JSerra. He and his wife, Kristen, live with their two daughters, Chloe and Nora, in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Cara Morales believes that waiting is a necessary part of life and that if we embrace it with the right attitude it not only makes us stronger — it leads us to Christ. Usually, Cara says, we are not very good at waiting. Advent, however, the season of preparation for Christmas, gives us the chance year after year to embrace the reality of waiting and to ask Jesus to wait with us. Cara gives us three practical tips that will focus our hearts and lives on the expectant hope of Jesus in the days leading up to His coming this Christmas. ABOUT THE GUEST Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who divides her career between her private practice and parent coaching. A Franciscan University graduate, Cara was the founding member of JSerra's theology department and campus ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high school's in the country to provide full-time on-campus professional therapy, a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the continual breakdown of the family. Cara now resides with her husband and three children in Idaho, where she continues to counsel clients and coach parents though her growing Facebook ministry: Powerfully Connected Parenting Tweens and Teens.

JSerra's new Virtue Program has been a smash hit with students and staff, but three months into the project, some parents are asking, "Weren't you doing enough?" JSerra History Teacher, Sr. John Michael of the Dominican Sisters of Ann Arbor, gives a dynamic overview of the big picture around virtues and shares some concrete stories of the fruit it is bearing in the lives of our students. Tune in and get the inside scoop from one of the architects and boots-on-the-ground practitioners of the Dominican Sisters only high school virtue program in the nation. ABOUT THE GUEST Sister John Michael has been in religious life for over ten years. For the past three of those years she has been a JSerra student favorite as a U.S. History and World History instructor. Sister has been pivotal pioneer of the Dominican Virtue Program being piloted on the high school level at JSerra. She grew up near Kansas City, Missouri with four sisters and a brother and enjoys many hobbies — not least of which are hiking, kayaking, playing guitar, piano, and just about every sport.

Bridget Desmond raised ten children, but that is only a small part of her role as a shaper of young people's lives. In her 16 years as Dean of Discipline at JSerra, she has had thousands of conversations with teenagers about the virtues they are made for and the behaviors that do — or do not — help them reach that destiny. In this 12-minute mini-podcast, Mrs. Desmond shares her wisdom regarding: The "why" and "how" of discipline within a Catholic framework What virtue-based discipline means How to discipline with love What teens who act out are really saying to adults Tips for parents on disciplining with long-term human formation in mind Enjoy this brief conversation with a veteran in forming young people. ABOUT THE GUEST Bridget Desmond, JD, graduated from Loyola University of Los Angeles and attended Loyola Law School. For many years, she was the only woman in an otherwise all-male law firm, practicing law from 1974 through 1983. She joined the staff of JSerra Catholic High School in September of 2005 and has served for the past 16 years as one of the school's two Deans of Discipline. More significantly, she is happily married with 10 children and 21 grandchildren.

Studies show that affluency, strong skill sets, and the school our children attend are not the most important factors for achieving health, wealth, and happiness. Dr. Leonard Sax shares new findings on the causes of adolescent stress, anxiety, and long-term unhappiness and offers evidence-based criteria for what most impacts a person's long-term personal and professional success. In this enjoyable and candid conversation, he and special guest, his 9th-grade daughter Sarah, explore the most dangerous cultural threats to our teens' flourishing and offer father-daughter insights about how parents and their high school aged children can navigate safely and securely past these current cultural hazard. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Leonard Sax provided care for children and adults in a family practice outside Washington, D.C, for more than 18 years. He has spent two decades visiting over 400 schools to research the causes of American adolescent's decline in academic performance and social-emotional well-being. For the past 17 years, Dr. Sax has led workshops, authored books, and given keynotes to address the conclusions of his research. He has been a guest on countless national and international media sources, including the TODAY Show (five times), CNN (three times), Headline News, PBS, Fox News (four times), NPR's Weekend Edition, and the BBC. His books include Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, and The Collapse of Parenting, a New York Times bestseller.

Opinions from Americans vary widely on the subject of Black History Month. Some Black Americans themselves think it does an injustice to their place in our nation's history; others see it as a necessary means for giving adequate honor to their invaluable and often unrecognized contributions. What should Catholic schools do? In this podcast, Fr. Claude Williams shares his view on a topic of increasing tension within our culture. Tune in and hear about how he as a life-long Catholic, long-time educator, and a dedicated follower of Christ addresses this and other matters that touch on the delicate and often contentious issue of race and racial reconciliation. ABOUT THE GUEST Father Claude Williams, O.Praem., is a native of New Orleans. After attending Catholic schools from kindergarten through his sophomore year in college, he joined the Norbertine order and was ordained a Catholic priest in 2009. Fr. Claude has spent most of his priesthood in Catholic education, as a classroom teacher, Vice Dean for Students, and now as Rector of Saints Peter and Paul School in Wilmington, California. In his parish work, Father ministers to Italian, Spanish, African American, and Latin Mass communities. In addition to school ministry during the week, he provides weekend sacramental assistance to Transfiguration Church in Los Angeles. Father held the honor of being Chairperson of Liturgy for the 2017 National Black Catholic Congress. For leisure, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his Norbertine community.

What makes Catholic schools what they are? What's the secret to their success? Dominican Sister, Sr. Maria Catherine, shares her insights about the exceptional qualities students and their families are finding as they make their way in large numbers to Catholic schools, many for the first time. A product of the public school system herself, Sister explains the reticence she had to Catholic education – even after she made her religious vows – and the surprise she experienced when she finally saw firsthand what Catholic schools were all about. Listen in as she unpacks the unique model of forming students for lifelong happiness that are at the center of JSerra and all strong Catholic schools. ABOUT THE GUEST Sr. Maria Catherine, O.P. is from the great state of Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she worked in various industries but mainly banking and administration before entering the convent. Sister has traveled widely and has been one of a few representatives of her community on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a published author in the Catholic San Francisco, The Imaginative Conservative, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. She loves teaching English and Theology and continues to be grateful for the opportunity to study Aquinas at Ave Maria University. She is currently teaching English at JSerra Catholic High School.

Tune in as licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founding JSerra faculty member, Cara Morales, goes toe to toe with the number one challenge facing parents today: their relationship with their teenagers. She offers inspiring insights on the centrality of strong relationships for our children's success in school and beyond, and explains why our connection with them is their best hope for navigating a jarringly secular culture and achieving overall happiness. She also shares tricks and tips for building bonds with teen children that will produce behaviors and outcomes every parent wants for their sons and daughters. ABOUT THE GUEST Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who divides her career between her private practice and JSerra Catholic High School. A wife and mother of three, she is the founding member of JSerra's Theology Department and Campus Ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high schools in the country to provide full-time, on-campus professional therapy — a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the ongoing breakdown of the family. She spearheads JSerra's original seminar series for students called Identity Formation, which creates co-institutional small groups that carry out conversations with teens about the cultural toxins that challenge their faith and values. Recently she launched a Facebook page for parent support called Cultivating Character through Parental Connection.

Kevin Matthews is a Chicago radio legend known for hilarious characters, outlandish pranks, huge comedy festivals, and wild parties with celebrities. After being diagnosed with MS in 2008, he began to take his faith more seriously. In 2011, standing outside a flower shop, he spotted a statue lying beside a dumpster. It was a statue of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, broken in two and missing her hands. Dumbfounded by the disrespect shown the statue, he took it home. From that moment on, Kevin began to experience the unmistakable presence of God and the urgent need to tell everyone he could about the love of Jesus and his Mother. Join him as he recounts his remarkable discovery of the transforming power of Broken Mary. ABOUT THE GUEST Kevin Matthews spent 17 years as the drive-time radio host for AM 1000 The Loop, and ABC and CBS radio in Chicago. The man behind the voice of a host of characters including his sidekick sports commentator, Jim Shorts, Matthews entertained ten million listeners weekly. During his time on radio, he regularly performed comedy shows to sold out crowds, and performed one summer before 65,000 fans in downtown Chicago. He has entertained hundreds of thousands of people at prisons, at army bases, and in neighborhood backyards. His celebrity promotions included comedy jams, concerts with his band, barbeque throw downs, and golf outings. Kevin has traveled the world, befriended the rich and famous, helped countless charities, and had babies named after him. Having returned fully to his Catholic faith, he now travels regularly to Midwest parishes promoting devotion to Jesus Christ through Broken Mary. Kevin and his wife Debra have two children and three grandchildren, and reside in Michigan.

George Floyd's death sparked an avalanche of protests around the nation aimed at ending police brutality and anti-black racism. What has ensued has been an inflammatory and divisive public discussion about systemic racism, the origins of Black Lives Matter, statistics on police shootings, and the validity or invalidity of White Fragility. During this in-depth podcast, Damon Owens speaks candidly from his vantage point as a Black American and from his convictions as a follower of Christ. With honesty and substance, Damon explains why many Black Americans feel the way they do at this time in history and why a genuine Catholic response offers the only way forward to authentic interracial healing. ABOUT THE GUEST Damon Owens is an international speaker, evangelist, and the executive director of Joyful Ever After, a ministry for married couples. Since leaving a successful career as an engineer, he has spent the good part of 20 years ministering to people in need of healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation. For the past year and a half, he has dedicated much of his time and expertise to racial healing. Mr. Owens keeps a full international speaking schedule at conferences, seminars, universities, high schools, seminaries, and parishes. His media appearances include EWTN, Catholic Answers, Ave Maria, Relevant Radio, Immaculate Heart Radio, ABC World News Tonight, CBS News, and NPR. In 2018, Pope Francis honored him with the Benemerenti Papal Medal in recognition for his work in support of marriage and family. He lives outside Philadelphia with his wife Melanie and their eight children.

Physician, psychologist, and best-selling author Dr. Leonard Sax returns to Plugged In with insights into the latest science around the pandemic, teen anxiety, and ways parents can navigate our current reality. This episode is packed with Dr. Sax's customary brilliance, wit, and sound advice as he offers analysis on everything from knives in German kindergartens to the right number of minutes our kids should spend on social media. Drawing on the latest research and from his fourth book, The Collapse of Parenting, Dr. Sax provides timely wisdom on best practices for parents that serve as a guidepost for the current circumstances of the pandemic as well for forming healthy and virtuous habits in our adolescents that will last them a lifetime ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Leonard Sax provided care for children and adults in a family practice outside Washington, D.C, for more than 18 years. He has spent two decades visiting over 400 schools to research the causes of American adolescent’s decline in academic performance and social-emotional well-being. For the past 17 years, Dr. Sax has led workshops, authored books, and given keynotes to address the conclusions of his research. He has been a guest on countless national and international media sources, including the TODAY Show (five times), CNN (three times), Headline News, PBS, Fox News (four times), NPR’s Weekend Edition, and the BBC. His books include Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, and The Collapse of Parenting, a New York Times bestseller.

Who doesn’t like school in their pajamas? As teens enter week nine of the COVID shutdown, parents are seeing the novelty of stay-at-home school wearing off — and trying to deal with the consequences. In this episode, counselors Olivia Huie and Cara Morales share insights as educators and moms on how to help quarantined teens cope and parents stay sane! Week nine of the shelter-in-place has almost everyone on edge. What seemed like a dream come true to teenagers has become more like an unbearably monotonous version of Groundhog Day. High school students are now reporting a host of conflicting reactions to being isolated from their normal outlets for support. Some are anxious and depressed; others are bored and unmotivated. How can parents deal with such a myriad of issues and manage their own work-from-home schedule simultaneously? JSerra counselors Olivia Huie and Cara Morales tag-team in this Plugged In episode to offer sound and timely advice for working moms and dads with kids. With humor and wisdom, and their own kids interrupting this Zoom-recorded podcast, they share from the heart about the real challenges and surprising successes of managing life in lockdown.

Do good guys and girls always finish last? Not according to JSerra Athletic Director Chris Ledyard. Chris shares with parents the secrets of raising great kids through the medium of sports and shares his strategy for teaching young people how to achieve excellence in mind, heart, and spirit without sacrificing excellence on the field. In his short tenure as JSerra Catholic High School's Athletic Director, Chris Ledyard has created a culture of transformational coaching that forms student-athletes in Christian character without sacrificing wins. In today's podcast, Chris explains how virtue-based athletics is the key to unlocking young people's God-given potential — the potential not only to excel physically, but to overcome adversity, respond to life's greatest challenges, and ultimately to love their neighbors as themselves. Chris Ledyard spent more than twenty years at the helm of the athletic program at Franciscan University in Steubenville before joining JSerra in October 2016. During his tenure at Franciscan, he built their athletic programs from the ground up and led the school through the process of receiving full accreditation in NCAA Division III. He was named the 2015 Athletic Director of the Year by Sports Faith International and Coach of the Year for soccer by the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference in 2006, 2007, and 2008. He coached in high school and state championship tournaments in Ohio and West Virginia in track and field, soccer, and wrestling (1990, 1993-95, 2006-2011, 2013) and was a college athlete himself, having wrestled at Ithaca College in New York. Chris and his wife, Lisa, have six children, all of whom are athletes and musicians.

In this episode of Plugged In, host Pat Reidy discusses the pro-life movement with activist Lila Rose, who describes her pro-life journey starting at 15 years old. Rose handles the delicate topic with love, compassion, and eloquence. Lila Rose is a speaker, writer, podcast host, and human rights activist who speaks internationally on faith, family and cultural issues. founded and serves as president of Live Action, a media and news nonprofit dedicated to ending abortion and inspiring a culture that respects all human life. She has addressed members of the European Parliament and the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women. Rose has been named among the National Journal's "25 Most Influential Washington Women Under 35," and Christianity Today's "33 under Thirty-Three." She is also the host of The Lila Rose Show, a podcast that tackles faith, relationships, culture and politics. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Lila and her husband reside in Los Angeles.

Is teen life really that stressful? Are adults over-diagnosing teen "anxiety"? Join this insightful conversation with veteran teen therapist and speaker, Mary Naimie. Mary gives us the real scoop on today's teen pressures, discusses their legitimacy, and suggests ways parents can navigate a whole new adolescent world. Mary Naimie, LCSW, is an Orange County-based licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and Brain Health Coach who specializes in treating high-achieving teens. Over the past 20 years, she has worked with hundreds of adolescents suffering from stress and high anxiety and has developed coping mechanisms for both teens and their parents. Mary received her Master's from UC Berkeley and speaks regularly on how teens and families can manage the pressures of today's competitive college prep environment.

Pat and Cara are back with this month’s Identity Formation wrap up! Tune in as they debrief about recent classroom conversations they and the IF Team had with students about the Newport Beach scandal, racism, human dignity, the college party scene, and more. JSerra's Identity Formation program creates co-institutional small groups that conduct conversations with teens about the cultural toxins that challenge their faith and values. Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor who divides her career between her private practice and JSerra Catholic High School. A Franciscan University graduate, Morales is the founding member of JSerra's theology department and campus ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high school's in the country to provide full-time on-campus professional therapy, a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the continual breakdown of the family. Morales has been married to her husband Justin for 9 years and they have three children.

Speaker, author, and podcaster Patrick Coffin joins Plugged In host Pat Reidy for a quip-filled, entertaining conversation that gets at the secret behind the movies we love. Mr. Coffin explains what is at the heart of a every great story, and explains the genius behind five classics that every family should watch together . . . more than once! Patrick Coffin is the host of The Patrick Coffin Show, a podcast on faith and culture heard in over 100 countries. The former host of Catholic Answers Live radio show, Patrick has interviewed top influencers, such as Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Costner, Fox News host and author Tucker Carlson, Emmy Award winning singer-actor, Harry Connick, Jr, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dion DiMucci, composers Morten Lauridsen and Sir James MacMillan, New York Times writer Ross Douthat, horror novelist Dean Koontz, four presidential candidates, and top Vatican cardinals. Coffin lives in Orange County, CA, with his wife and two daughters.

This month Cara Morales and Pat Reidy join forces again with a quick summary of the quarter’s Identity Formation summation, where they talked with teens about mental health and college challenges. JSerra Catholic High School's Identity Formation creates co-institutional small groups that conduct conversations with teens about the cultural toxins that challenge their faith and values. Tune in to hear more. Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor who divides her career between her private practice and JSerra Catholic High School. A Franciscan University graduate, Morales is the founding member of JSerra's theology department and campus ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high school's in the country to provide full-time on-campus professional therapy, a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the continual breakdown of the family. Morales has been married to her husband Justin for 9 years and they have three children.

In this episode, host Patrick Reidy responds to the Gillette Razor commercial and the mega-debate that has been ignited around it. What does it mean to be a man? Is masculinity "toxic"? Is aggression always bad? Do fundamental masculine tendencies exists and, if so, what are they for? What do science, philosophy, theology, and the natural law say it means to be a real man? How have the culture's messages about manhood over the last 60 years negatively affected boys and men? And how can we raise boys with an authentic understanding of genuine masculinity so they grow up to be real men? Pat Reidy is the Vice President of Mission and Faith at JSerra Catholic High School, a founding member of the Tabor Life Institute for promoting St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, and the host of Plugged In. As an adjunct professor at St. John Vianney Catholic Seminary in Denver and St. Patrick's Catholic Seminary in San Francisco, he has worked extensively in the formation of young men, and in the development of youth in masculine identity and authentic manhood.

Teens can be a handful! Dr. Cliff Patterson gives laser-sharp advice to parents and offers them practical tips for disciplining their adolescent sons and daughters with confidence, humor, and grace. Using examples from his personal counseling practice and life as a husband and dad, Dr. Patterson tackles chore time, back talk, slacking in school, the silent treatment, and more! Dr. Clifton Patterson prefers to speak of himself as a professional counselor — an expression of modesty that betrays his expertise in the field of family psychology. Dr. Patterson helps youth and families build solid lives through solid relationships. Before starting SoCal Youth and Family Services, he worked for 13 years for various companies as a therapeutic behavior coach and a family counselor. After a successful career helping Kinship Center and Western Youth Services, Dr. Patterson now coaches and advises youth and family service organizations on how to identify root causes of struggles in the family unit. He has spoken on numerous occasions to the thundering applause of JSerra Catholic High School parents.

Cara Morales joins host, Pat Reidy, in a summary of the talks given to 9th-12th graders in their November Identity Formation seminars. Topics include masculinity and femininity, friendship, dating, and the hook-up culture. Identity Formation creates co-institutional small groups that conduct conversations with teens about the cultural toxins that challenge their faith and values. Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor who divides her career between her private practice and JSerra Catholic High School. A Franciscan University graduate, Morales is the founding member of JSerra's theology department and campus ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high school's in the country to provide full-time on-campus professional therapy, a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the continual breakdown of the family. Morales has been married to her husband Justin for 9 years and they have three children.

A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, theologian, teacher, youth minister, wife and mother, Cara Morales brings a host of creative gifts to the table and young people respond. Join her as she explores the origins and evolution of JSerra's unique outreach to students called Identity Formation, the school's response to the culture's current toxic influences on teens. Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor who divides her career between her private practice and JSerra Catholic High School. A Franciscan University graduate, Morales is the founding member of JSerra's theology department and campus ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high school's in the country to provide full-time on-campus professional therapy, a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the continual breakdown of the family. Morales spearheads JSerra's original seminar series for its students called Identity Formation, which creates co-institutional small groups that conduct conversations with teens about the cultural toxins that challenge their faith and values. She has been married to her husband Justin for 9 years and they have three children.

One of the most powerful statements you can make, says Sarah Swafford, is, "I promise not to use you." In this dynamic interview, the author, speaker, and former college RA helps parents make sense of the growing dating dysfunction among high school and college-aged kids, and makes practical suggestions for saving your sons and daughters from the drama that accompanies the hook-up mentality. Swafford is the founder of Emotional Virtue Ministries and the author of the book: Emotional Virtue: A Guide to Drama-Free Relationships. As a graduate and former resident assistant of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, she had a close-up view of romantic relationships and witnessed for herself just how much young people have suffered from the fall-out of the changing dating culture. Her response has been to address young people honestly about the importance of loving and not using one another, by growing in what she calls “emotional virtue.” Sara has spoken to thousands of teens and college-aged students and is a much sought-after speaker on topics such as dating, relationships, and inner confidence. You can find her talks and books at emotionalvirtue.com.

In this illuminating conversation, Julie Lythcott-Haims shares the dangers and inevitable pitfalls of overparenting and the consequences on burgeoning young adults. Offering personal anecdotes about her own parenting faux pas, Lythcott-Haims warns parents about the unintended long-term consequences of hyper-managing their children and offers exceptional advice on how to pivot one’s parenting style toward the most important child-raising objective: capable men and women in charge of their own lives. Lythcott-Haims is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School the author of the New York Times best-selling book How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success (2015). She is deeply interested in what prevents people from living meaningful, fulfilling lives. How to Raise an Adult emerged from Julie’s decade as Stanford University’s Dean of Freshmen, where she was known for her fierce critique of the growing trend of parental involvement in the day-to-day lives of college students. How to Raise an Adult has been published in over two dozen countries and gave rise to a TED talk that became one of the top TED Talks of 2016 with over three million views.

Physician, psychologist, and author Dr. Leonard Sax unpacks key points from his best-selling book, The Collapse of Parenting, in this double-length interview. Dr. Sax helps parents to: Identify the unique deficiencies that American young people are experiencing Understand the changes in education that affect the way today’s teens are being formed Recognize parenting pitfalls that redound negatively on their sons and daughters Formulate a plan that can make parents confident and effective without enabling Raise young men and women of faith, intellect, and character Dr. Leonard Sax provided care for children and adults in a family practice outside Washington, D.C, for more than 18 years. Dr. Sax then spent 5 years visiting schools and communities, leading workshops, and writing before he returned to full-time clinical practice in the fall of 2013 near his home in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He has given keynotes based on his visits to more than 400 communities over the past 17 years and has been a guest for the TODAY Show (five times), CNN (three times), Headline News, PBS, Fox News (four times), NPR’s Weekend Edition, the BBC, and many other national and international media. His books include Why Gender Matters, Boys Adrift, Girls on the Edge, and The Collapse of Parenting, a New York Times bestseller.

In this episode: Zach Eckert challenges the common myths surrounding teenagers and their faith: first, that young people are not interested in talking about God; second, that teens are uninterested in talking to adults, especially their parents He also addresses the keys to connecting with adolescents and offers tips for entering into meaningful dialogue with them on topics of personal, cultural, and spiritual significance He offers insights about youth for parents who are facing challenges getting through to their teen son or daughter and strategies for opening up the heart of an unavailable teen He discusses the most successful ways of creating faith-friendly environments in schools through small sharing groups and intentional one-on-one ministry

Rich Meyer talks about: Insights about teenagers from his unique vantage point as a 20-year educator and the President of his children’s high school How parenting styles have had to adjust from the 1950’s to today The joys and challenges of raising a large family in modern culture Differentiating parenting techniques with young kids versus teens Differentiating parenting techniques with girls versus boys The number one value to instill in children before they go off to college