Strength Training for the Soul

S2 E4: Mute Mode for Your Soul

Have you ever noticed how uncomfortable silence can be? I'm the queen of filling every moment with noise—TV in the background, radio in the car, Earth, Wind & Fire while I'm cleaning. But lately, God's been challenging me on this. While reading Luke's Gospel, I stumbled onto something fascinating about Archangel Gabriel's visits to Zechariah and Mary. He asks them both to trust him with impossible news, but his response to their questions couldn't be more different. One gets silenced for nine months, the other gets a beautiful explanation. Why? What I discovered changed how I think about silence completely. It's not what you might expect, and it's definitely not punishment. Join me as I explore what happened to Zechariah and why embracing a little silence might be exactly what our souls need right now.

S2 E3: The ABCs of Mercy w/Jill Fischer & St. Faustina

In this episode of Strength Training for the Soul, I sit down with Jill Fischer to talk about St. Faustina, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and why her message matters today. Jill shares the meaning behind the Divine Mercy image and introduces a simple but powerful practice—ABC: Ask for mercy, Be merciful, Completely trust in Jesus. Whether you’re weighed down by conflict, fear, or frustration, this tool helps move you toward compassion, trust, and light.

S2 E2: What Difference Does It Make?

“What difference does it make anyway?” A friend’s question hit me harder than I expected. Was this podcast my midlife crisis? My grief project? Just a hobby? I wasn’t sure, until God gave me an answer in a homily about a girl saving sea stars, one at a time.
In this episode, I share how that moment anchored my why: encouraging souls, building strength, and carrying forward my son Jack’s legacy to change the world one heart at a time.

S2 E1: New Seasons, New Strengths

Season 2 kicks off with my favorite duo, Jill and Claire, and somehow we found ourselves in a whole lot of boat stories! We're talking about stepping into new seasons with new strengths—whether that's casting nets when you're exhausted, resting with Jesus during storms, or navigating new roles with trust and surrender.
Jill shares how humility has become her endurance muscle as she launches the "10 Habits of a Disciple"—a 10-month project for thousands of parishioners. Claire opens up about God's healing work as she prepares for 21 retreats this year. Together, we explore how the basics—prayer, sacraments, and Scripture—keep us anchored.
You'll walk away with practical next steps: trying the Surrender Novena, leaning on friends and saints, and simply showing up even when faith feels ordinary.
If you're ready for a fresh start, this conversation will encourage you to keep lifting your prayers and let God do the heavy work.

Replay 2: Diving Deeper Into the Saints w/Al McCauley

What role do saints play in our spiritual lives? In this episode replay, Director of Adult Faith Formation Al McCauley shares his extensive knowledge about saints and their significance in Catholic tradition. Through engaging stories and examples like Saint Veronica, Al explains how saints serve as spiritual guides, showing us that holiness is achievable despite our human struggles. Learn why saints aren't just figures in stained glass windows, but relatable role models who demonstrate courage, empathy, and humility. Whether you're Catholic or simply curious about saints, this conversation offers fresh insights into how these extraordinary individuals can inspire our own faith journeys today.

Replay: God's Outdoor Classroom w/Joe Meyer

Joe Meyer, director of the Catholic Ecology Center and science teacher, shares how his passion for faith and nature led to creating a unique ministry. From his personal journey to the founding of the CEC, Meyer discusses how spending time in nature can deepen our spiritual lives and help us hear God's voice more clearly. He offers practical wisdom for answering God's call and finding divine beauty in the natural world.

EP 52:The Retreat Reset w/ Bernadette Trucco

Join me for the Season 1 finale as I sit down with my good friend and retreat regular, Bernadette Trucco, to take the mystery out of spiritual retreats.
Bernadette calls them her “spiritual reset sessions,” essential soul maintenance that keeps her on God’s path and helps her show up as her best self. From the nerves of her very first retreat to now scheduling them as non-negotiables, she shares how these sacred pauses have carried her through life’s toughest decisions and deepest joys.

EP 51: The Psalm That Found Me: A 1966 Story

What happens when Scripture suddenly feels like it was written just for you?
The responsorial psalm at a recent Mass I attended hit different; it seemed so special and personal to me. Then I noticed it was Psalm 66, and I was born in 1966. Coincidence? There’s no such thing. When I got home to dig deeper, what I discovered just clicked with me and helped me better understand my path and the role of God's word.
Those verses became my roadmap for the life I'm building now. And by the end of this episode, you'll have a challenge that might just reveal the psalm God's been saving for you your whole life.

EP 50: Choosing Service Over Career. A GenZ Graduate's Year of Purpose

What happens when a brand-new college grad walks away from the “safe” career path to take a year of service with no teaching degree, a modest stipend and a classroom full of teenagers who think he’s ancient at 22?
In this special episode closing out my Gen Z series, I sit down with my son, Ben Kujawa. Fresh out of Iowa State with a forestry degree and a minor in wildlife ecology, he’s back at his old high school teaching environmental science and coaching football, basketball and lacrosse.
We talk about choosing service over career advancement, holding onto faith through loss and setbacks, and how simply living authentically can become quiet but powerful evangelization. Ben shares why “all things must pass” has become a life motto, for the highs as much as the lows, and why sometimes the best foundation is the one you build at rock bottom.

EP 49: Pope Leo Hijacked My Plans!

Pope Leo totally changed my episode plans when he delivered an incredible homily to a million young people at the Jubilee of Youth in Rome. They're calling it a "Catholic Woodstock," and honestly, that energy comes through even in a foreign language. His message made me want to share it: aspire to something more, find joy in what you give (not what you get), and stop settling for less than the holiness you were made for. Sure, he was talking to Gen Z, but this message is for all of us who feel that tug toward something bigger. I break down three key reflections that'll make you stop thinking your life is small - because it's not. Come for the Pope content, stay for the permission slip to live fully.