Treasures in Heaven

Victoria is back with a quick message of hope because no matter who wins the election...two things are true. Listen to find out!  As I always say, "Instead of following me on Instagram, since I don't have an Instagram, go follow Jesus!"    Brought to you by VictoriaEverleigh.com

Beth, the blogger behind the Positive Disabled Adult, talks about her incredible cancer/radiation poisoning journey, how she trusts in God amidst health struggles, and her advice about the trap of comparison.  Beth's Blog (The Positive Disabled Adult)  Naps are Overrated  In My Own Words (Beth's in-depth story - set aside some time and tissues for this one!)  The Hope We Vow- Victoria's novel that Beth mentioned towards the end  Read Victoria's latest novel, All Things New!

In my first edition of "Fiction Fridays", I chat with Catholic children's author Maria Riley. She has an amazing, inspiring story of motherhood that includes pregnancy, birth, loss, and adoption. Plus, it inspired her to write a book series called "Adventures with the Saints."  Links: Maria Riley's website  Saint Joseph: The Foster Father Saint Synopsis:  Joshua is a seven-year-old foster child who moves in with the Martin family. They seem really nice, but Joshua isn't sure if his new parents can love him as much as a biological child. With his new brother and sister, Luke and Becca, Joshua goes on a special journey and meet Saint Joseph at the time of Jesus' birth. Can Saint Joseph teach Joshua, Luke, and Becca a lesson about love and adoption? Will Joshua ever fit in with his new family?   Created by VictoriaEverleigh.com  Read my novels  and my new serialized fiction series, Dial the Doula. Already read them? Leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads! You can copy & paste your review between the two. Thank you so much! 

In this episode, I get real about how hard it's been to find a full-time job (and just get interviews in general). If God allows it, then God can redeem it.  Like the show? You may like my blog or my books, too! 

Why are people obsessed with the royal family? (Hint: It has to do with Jesus!)  Like the show? You may like my blog or my books, too! 

Today I'm talking about the final novel in my trilogy, The Hope We Vow. It's about a young-ish woman (she's 35) named Sadie, who's trying to figure out the vocation God is calling her to. Her story spans continents, convents, and a couple of male suitors. I hope that other women who are discerning their vocation will find comfort and encouragement in Sadie's journey.   Sign up for my free Nothing Fancy Monthly-ish Newsletter to hear about freebies/deals on my books.  Read my novels:  The Love We Vow The Vows We Keep The Hope We Vow Already read them? Leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads! You can copy & paste your review between the two. Thank you so much for your support!

**SPOILERS** This episode contains spoiler for my first novel, The Love We Vow. I'm going to discuss the second book in the trilogy, The Vows We Keep. In doing so, it will spoil the end of The Love We Vow. Happy reading!  Sign up for my free Nothing Fancy Monthly-ish Newsletter to hear about freebies/deals on my books.  Read my novels:  The Love We Vow The Vows We Keep The Hope We Vow Already read them? Leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads! You can copy & paste your review between the two. Thank you so much for your support!

Today I'm talking about my first novel, The Love We Vow, which I self-published in March. What's it about? (A young woman goes to confession and realizes the priest is her ex-boyfriend...dun, dun, dun!) And why did I write it? I'm going to answer those questions today. It's available in ebook and paperback format. I hope these books accompany you in whatever season of suffering you're in and tht they entertain you along the way.  Resources mentioned: How to request my books at your local library Sign up for my free Nothing Fancy Monthly-ish Newsletter to hear about freebies/deals on my books  Buy my novels: The Love We Vow and The Vows We Keep  Already read them? Leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads! You can copy & paste your review between the two. 

Fellow Catholic author Andrea Bear joins me today to talk about how the death of her mother eventually led her to writing her first novel, Grieving Daughter's Club. We talk about: how the death of her mother affected her  what support looked like during the grieving process  how she actually wrote a novel with no formal writing training  how she found a publisher for her book after getting rejected originally  abandoning our timelines to God's timeline plus, the super cool thing that Deacon Harold Burke does when writing his books  Andrea's first CatholicMom.com article she wrote  Read Andrea's novel, Grieving Daughters' Club.  This episode was created by VictoriaEverleigh.com Read my novels: The Love We Vow and The Vows We Keep If youv'e already read them, thank you! Please consider leaving a review on Amazon or GoodReads! You can copy & paste your review between the two. 

Your life is worth celebrating! Happy birthday to you! Listen to this if you need a reminder of your worth on your birthday (or even if it's not your birthday).  Created by VictoriaEverleigh.com Buy my novels: The Love We Vow and The Vows We Keep. Already read them? Leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads! 

Catholic life coach Christina Brown is here! We talk about her journey to becoming a Catholic life coach, the effect it's had on how she views the world, why our goal isn't to be happy all the time, and why intentionality and spontaneity aren't opposites, and how she schedules out her week to integrate her six kids' and husband's calendars.  She's the newest coach at Made for Greatness! If you want to get coached by Christina, you can do so at Made For Greatness.  Think: How can you make something ordinary extraordinary?  Christina's website Thanks Mom! podcast Created by VictoriaEverleigh.com Buy my novels: The Love We Vow and The Vows We Keep  Already read them? Leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads! 

Catholic health coach Jessica Castillo is on the line! We talk about her conversion to Catholicism, her time in the military (she is so brave!), the integration of our physical health with our spiritual and mental health, the role of virtues in our health journey, and the power of being intentional in our food choices. Victoria also opens up about some of her food and sleep struggles. You will be so happy you listened!  Highlight from Jessica: "It's so much easier to eliminate temptation than it is to resist or fight temptation."  Jessica's website Jessica's articles on Catholic365.com (esp. love the one on what to do after a bad night of sleep) Created by VictoriaEverleigh.com Buy my novels: The Love We Vow and The Vows We Keep  Already read them? Leave a review on Amazon or GoodReads! 

Maybe you've seen his creations - a full Catholic church made out of legos! John Kraemer, the creator of the Lego Church Project, joins me to talk about how he uses his gifts to glorify God and how no matter our state in life, we can all do the same! This was an eye-opening, humbling conversation for me about what it's like to have a disability.  Links: Lego Church Project Facebook New book about Blessed Solanus Casey (aff link) Produced by yours truly at VictoriaEverleigh.com

In my return episode, I'm talking to Madeleine Karako, the creator of Zelie Crafts. We chat about running a business while being a mom, making sense of suffering (including a tragic story about her midwife), and the amazing story of St. Zelie, who inspired Madeleine's business.    To see the shownotes for the products we talked about visit: VictoriaEverleigh.com/32  Read my novel, The Love We Vow, in e-book, paperback or hardcover!

Today I'm talking to Krzysztof Czeczot, the founder and director of the Audio Bible Super Production.   A couple of months ago, I heard about a project called the Audio Bible Super Production. It's a 3D audio experience of the bible, which was already very successful in Poland. Now, it's coming to the United States! Not only that, but there's an opportunity for everyday people (not just actors) to have their voice be part of the production. This episode also contains an awesome sneak peek of the 3D audio experience!  How you can get involved: You can enter the contest here. Sign up for their newsletter Pray for everyone involved in the project  Resources: The Audio Bible Super Production website  Sneak peek of "Revelation"  Instead of following me on Instagram, since I don't have an Instagram, go follow Jesus! 

Emily Ricci is the founder of Gloriam Marketing, a Catholic marketing agency. They work with churches, business and ministries to promote their services in a faith-based way. We talk about: Biblical principles about marketing The temptation to make your number of followers your idol  Marketing tools from the Apostles  How Jesus met people where they were  Is there a danger in a ministry becoming too big?  Why engagement is a better metric than the number of followers Why Catholic ministries shouldn't feel like they have to give everything away for free  Resources mentioned: "Feed My Sheep..." Not Count Them - Growing a Following as a Catholic Ministry The Marketing Rule That Made Me Cry Gloriam Marketing Instagram Instead of following me on Instagram, since I don't have an Instagram, go follow Jesus!  Produced by ConsumerCatholic.com

Today, I'm talking with Katie and Andrew Laflamme about the FIRE (financial independence - retire early) movement and personal finance from a Catholic perspective. Katie & Andrew met as missionaries and now have a baby girl with another baby on the way!  Check out Andrew's blog, A Fire of Faith.  Resources discussed: The Root Collective: See how much it costs each time you wear their shoes.This is a link to the flats I was talking about in the show. I purchased them last year and loved them! *This is NOT an affiliate link!*  InspireInsight.com Tool: See if your investments are biblically responsible or socially responsible from a Catholic perspective  Catholic S&P 500 ETF  Compass Catholic Ministries Article about the man who tracked everything he wore for years to see the value of each piece  Mr. Money Mustache Previous podcast episodes referenced: 27. Investment Funds for Catholics to Consider: Part 1 28. Investment Funds for Catholics to Consider: Part 2

Let's talk more investing! Catholics can also consider Biblically Responsible Investing (BRI) funds. These are not specifically designed according to the USCCB investing guidelines, but it's very similar.  Here are some of the most popular fund families to check out: 1) Inspire Invest ETFs. Full disclosure, I own BIBL in one of my retirement accounts.  BIBL: Inspire 100 ETF BLES: Inspire Global Hope ETF WWJD: Inspire International ESG ETF A list of their other funds The biblically responsible investing guidelines that Inspire Invest uses.  Listen to Investment Funds for Catholics to Consider: Part 1

If you want to start investing as a Catholic and you're wondering what your options are to do so, this is the episode for you!  There are no publicly traded companies that brand themselves as Catholic. So to invest in a Catholic socially responsible way, you have to find companies that fall under the criteria of the USCCB's investing guidelines. Luckily, multiple companies have already done this work for you!  1) Catholic S&P 500 (CATH)  2) Ave Maria Mutual Funds  3) Catholic Investor Funds from The Knights of Columbus   4) Aquinas Catholic Equity Fund  Other episodes about Catholic socially responsible investing: Socially Responsible Investing for Catholics: An Overview 7 Things to Know Before You Start Investing as a Catholic Please keep in mind that this information is intended as education, not advice. That means: if you invest in any of these funds and lose money, please don't get mad at me. Also, if you invest in these funds and make money, it's also not because of me! I don't control how funds perform. If I did, I'd be the richest person in the world ;) 

What is financial interdependence? First of all, it's not  specifically a Catholic term (aka not from the Catechism or the Bible); rather, it's a way of thinking that I invite you to consider. It's an acknowledgment that even if we're so-called "financially independent" (aka, don't have to work to pay bills) or "financially dependent" (aka, we rely on someone else to pay bills), we're all actually financially interdependent. We all still rely on God and on each other regardless of our financial state in life. Mentioned: Episode 25: 7 Things to Know Before You Start Investing as a Catholic Show notes: https://www.consumercatholic.com/why-were-all-financially-interdependent/ Instead of following me on Instagram, since I don't have an Instagram, go follow Jesus! 

We're going to talk about investing! Are you ready?!  1. It's wise to have an emergency fund before you start investing (3 months of expenses) 2. Investing is not a get-rich-quick scheme 3. You may already be investing, by virtue of participating in a workplace retirement plan 4. Catholic socially responsible investment (SRI) funds are typically not offered in workplace plans (I'll explain why)  5. Stocks vs. bonds 6. Passive vs. active investing (learn my laundry analogy)  7. It's not your money you're investing; it's God's  Get caught up on other episodes about Catholic investing: Episodes 18 & 19  Instead of following me on Instagram, since I don't have an Instagram, go follow Jesus!  Produced by ConsumerCatholic.com

The guys from Catholic Late Night, Patrick Hanus & John Welch, are back! It's hard to summarize what we talked about because there was so much depth and we all get very HONEST:  men and women being friends the toxic dating culture we've all been part of  worrying about offending people with the truth  how awesome and necessary discourse is the capable hands our Church is in  Check out Patrick and John's content:   Catholic Late Night Overt Network Overt TV on Youtube Skymouse Studios for awesome landing pages  

A.R.K. Watson, author and founder of CatholicReads.com, joins me today! Some of the things we discuss: her conversion to Catholicism why she thinks NOW is the golden age of Catholic fiction how we can all support Catholic fiction writers whether there's room for Catholic fiction in the traditional publishing world (Yes! We just need to ask for more!)  Plus, she reads an excerpt from her book, The Vines of Mars.  Resources: A.R.K.'s Website The Grace Crasher book CatholicReads.com CatholicRead's Patreon Carolyn Astfalk's website The website I mentioned where you can look out other people's windows throughout the world  My interview w/ Carolyn Astfalk Photos of ARK's backyard in South Korea will be on ConsumerCatholic.com Produced by ConsumerCatholic.com. Instead of following me on Instagram since I don't have an Instagram, go follow Jesus! 

Do men and women have different fears about dating and marriage? We discuss: whether people idolize marriage  the idea of "The One"    the idea that marriage is where we go to get sanctified, not a place where only perfectly holy people can enter  Patrick Hanus and John Welch join me (Victoria) to talk about these things from a Catholic guy's perspective. Catholic Late Night Overt Network Overt TV on Youtube Referenced: Episode 13 of Treasures in Heaven: Damaging Dating Advice ft. Patty Breen  Produced by ConsumerCatholic.com

Catholic novelist Carolyn Astalk shares her journey to becoming a published author, while also being a wife and the mom of 4 kids. I think you'll find Carolyn's work to be relatable and relevant because she's not afraid to write about characters who deal with issues that many Catholics (and non-Catholics alike) have faced but won't talk about, like infidelity and pornography addiction. Yet, the beauty in all of this is how she shows us that we're all still lovable and capable of loving others. Her characters give an amazing example of how to live that out. Carolyn lives in Hershey with her family (and no, she's not sick of chocolate)!  Resources: Carolyn's website Catholic Fiction and Where to Find It  Restored: True Stories of Love & Trust by Matt Fradd Some of Carolyn's books: Ornamental Graces (the one Victoria read and couldn't put down!)  All in Good Time Rightfully Ours Stay With Me and Come Back To Me Produced by www.ConsumerCatholic.com

Socially responsible investing (SRI) as a Catholic is easy. Loving people is hard. Victoria talks about how SRI is the low-hanging fruit of the spiritual life and the amazing benefits it can reap - without needing to be an investment professional. Learn enough to make investing easy so that you can build wealth and spend more of your time and brainpower on the harder tasks of life, like loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves.    

Did you know there's a way to integrate your Catholic faith and your investment portfolio? I'm going to break down the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) guidelines for socially responsible investments (SRI).  It really doesn't have to be hard and I'm going to explain why!  In a nutshell, the main goals for the USCCB's investments are to generate reasonable returns while investing in companies that don't violate Catholic morality and ethics.  USCCB's Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines  Consumer Catholic blog on Socially Responsible Investing for Catholics Catholic Economics podcast episode "On Catholic Investing"

You might have a to-do list, but do you have a to-be list? If not, grab a pen and paper! I want you to write down all the adjectives you want to be. Loving, kind, caring, humble, you name it. I'm reminded of Edith Stein's quote: "The world doesn't need what women have, it needs what women are." Since I know we don't just have female listeners, I will say that this quote applies to everyone. The world needs what you are!  I'm going to talk about the difference between to-do lists and to-be lists and the beauty that comes from integrating the two.  Email me, Victoria, if you want to share your to-be list at consumercatholic@gmail.com  God Bless! 

Brennan Costello is the founder of the Everyday Prayer Co. Brennan teaches students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Entrepreneurship Program. But he also walks the walk by running his own businesses. His goal is to help people "pray without ceasing" inspired his latest venture. He created the "Rosary Card," which is the size of a business card and it can fit in places like your iPhone case back pocket or your wallet!  His explanation for why he reached out to a competitor before launching his own product (14:05) was fascinating!  We talk about much more than business, including his quarantine engagement, the unique challenges of being a young Catholic, and how we can become all become better at building community. 10% of profits from Everyday Prayer Co will go directly to the Matt Talbot Kitchen and Outreach.  Other resources we talked about: The Wallet Rosary That awesome humanities class that led to many students converting to Catholicism  Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo   

J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, "Not all those who wander are lost."  Mary Krolicki, a Missionary Guide Manager with Creatio, talks about how we can encounter God in the creation of the great outdoors, as well as through community and service.  Creatio offers pilgrimages and adventure missions (even to the Galapagos Islands) for young adults. All are welcome!  Creatio.org/  The Ultimate Guide to Catholic-Friendly Charities Show Notes   

Victoria talks to Anna Camacho, founder of Corda Candles. Anna designs and creates coconut wax blend candles (no paraffin here!) with scents inspired by saints like Dymphna and Teresa of Avila. On her site, you can shop based on the patronage you're looking for. Anxiety? Saint Dymphna. Pregnant Women? Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Sick? Saint Michael the Archangel. There's even candles to accompany Morning and Night Prayer. I don't make any money from promoting Anna - I just love her products!  We get real about the struggles of what to share about ourselves online, how Anna defines success (it's very specific and refreshing), and how our Catholic faith can inform how we approach marketing.  www.CordaCandles.com

Patty Breen and I talk about what she had to unlearn about Catholic dating! Though common dating advice is well-intentioned, sometimes it can cause people to idolize marriage to an unhealthy level. At the end, we challenge the guys over at Catching Foxes to do an episode on this topic, too.  Here are a few of the things we discuss:  The idolization of marriage The idolization of virginity and lack of compassion for those who had sex before marriage Marriage is not the be-all and the end-all  What I Needed to Unlearn About Catholic Dating Patty's blog "A Modern Grace"

Mike and Maria Romano, husband and wife co-founders of Archangel Outfitters, talk business! Here's what we discuss: The challenges of working full time and running a side business Whether the obstacles we face are just part of the job or a sign to move on  Working for a secular vs. Catholic business   Trust in the Slow Work of God by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin "I Love My Hubby/Wifey" T-shirts  

Here's something to reflect on as 2019 comes to a close: do you wish you were famous? If so, why? We talk about what happens when you ask yourself this question and invite God into the conversation.  Mentioned in the episode: Thriving in the Trenches podcast episode with Leah Darrow 

Kate Frantz from "Thy Olive Tree" is the latest guest in our Small Business Series. We discuss what inspired her to create "My Catholic Keepsake," which is a memory book for babies and beyond that chronicles sacraments, milestones and other special events! Kate also shares her conversion story, which happened only a few years ago, and how she built her business with no business background. Plus, we get into how she defines success - and it has nothing to do with profits and losses.  Listeners can get $5 off "My Catholic Keepsake" with promo code CONSUMER5 through Thanksgiving Day 2019 (November 28).  www.ThyOliveTree.com "My Catholic Keepsake"  

Author Alan Migliorato talks about his new book, "The Manly Art of Raising A Daughter." This isn't just an episode for fathers; it's for everyone! We talk about how pride can keep men from truly connecting with their daughters, but we also discuss healing the father-daughter relationship and how "daddy issues" can affect the choices young women make in dating. So much beauty in this conversation!  You can purchase "The Manly Art of Raising A Daughter" on Amazon.com or AdventureCatholic.com.

Shannon Norris shares her beautiful story of being diagnosed with breast cancer in her 30s. The experience inspired her to help other fighters through her Comfy Chemo Care Bag Project.  I'm releasing this on July 4th because that was a pivotal day in Shannon's story, as you'll hear. We recorded this in June, so a couple of the events she mentioned that were coming up have already passed. But you can still support the Comfy Chemo Care Bag Project by going to their website, where you can donate money or buy something off the Amazon Registry. There are amazing testimonies, as well, from people who have received Shannon's bags while going through chemo!  God Bless!   

Happy unofficial start to summer! Has anyone ever asked you, or have you ever asked anyone, "Where are you going this summer?" I've done it! Sometimes travel can feel like a competition, like who's been to more countries or has more stamps on their passport? Isn't it exhausting?! I examine how we can (try to) take an eternal viewpoint on the whole concept of travel! 

Victoria explains why "Treasures in Heaven" is on winter break (hint: something very exciting happened in her life). She talks about when she'll be back on air and what direction the podcast is taking! 

Jill and Jason DeLorenzo from Ad Deum Funds talk about options trading for Catholics. Wait, what? If you're new to investing or interested in investing, you'll learn what options trading is. Jason approaches it from a very different perspective by following Catholic social teaching based on guidelines set by the USCCB on socially-responsible investing for Catholics. We talk about the challenges and joys of running a business this way and what it's like for them to work together as husband and wife!  Ad Deum Funds Wizard of Ops Newsletter USCCB Guidelines for Socially Responsible Investing Please note: this episode does not constitute investment advice and does not act as an endorsement of any financial products.  

Do you have a passion or a hobby you just love? For Cynthia Psencik, one of those passions is fashion. Today, the way that passion plays out in her life is quite different than what she dreamed of as a child. So what happened? Cynthia and I talk about how she realized God had different plans for her career and how she continues to enjoy fashion.  Cynthia is the Archdiocese of New York's Director of Youth Ministry. For show notes, head to consumercatholic.com/ep4 

Stacie and John Martinez from Proud Catholic Company join us for the first installment of the "Small Business Series." They share their story of working in the fashion industry in NYC to starting their own apparel company after going through a conversion.  Show notes: https://www.consumercatholic.com/ep3/ 

What do bitcoin and blockchain have to do with the Catholic Church? Could they benefit the Church? Catholic Blockchain co-founder Brantly Millegan has the answers.  Learn more about Catholic Blockchain:  http://catholicblockchain.org/  Catholic Blockchain Facebook page 5 Ways the Catholic Church Can Use Blockchain Technology to Better Carry Out Her Mission  Catholics and Cryptocurrencies   

Welcome to my new podcast "Treasures in Heaven" for young Catholics. We talk about money, travel, and more. Find out what to expect and little more about me (Victoria) in this mini-sode!