Always Hope

We all know what it feels like to be drowning under a pile of work or overwhelmed by difficulties beyond our control. Those moments when our emotions become overwhelming, and we lose a reference point to keep us stable.

That feeling of being out-of-control is encapsulated by the symbolism of water in scripture, and that’s what we are diving into in today’s episode. Through stories from the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Mario Sacasa explores how faith can guide us through life's storms. See how these biblical images offer us hope, comfort, and a path forward through God’s grace.

Mario emphasizes the importance of trust as a developmental milestone and explains how spiritual truths can anchor our emotional well-being. He also reflects on how faith helps us navigate suffering, chaos, and uncertainty, offering a firm foundation in God's presence.

The episode closes with an invitation to prayer for communities affected by Hurricane Helene, and ways to support relief efforts for those impacted by natural disasters.

See the links below to offer financial assistance:

Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Charities Hurricane Helen Donations Page

Diocese of St. Petersburg Hurricane Relief Fund

Not sure how to start a conversation with a someone you find attractive? Download my free Dating Toolkit at www.drmariosacasa.com

Follow me on the socials:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa

Full Courses:

Dating Well: www.drmariosacasa/datingwell

Overcoming Stress and Anxiety: www.goodcatholic.com/product/overcoming-stress-and-anxiety/

The content of Always Hope is for purely educational reasons and is not meant as a substitute for proper diagnosis and/or professional counseling. If you need psychological or counseling services, please contact a trusted therapist for assistance.

Why do most people feel like the dating scene has become a dumpster fire? What are the unique challenges faced by Catholic young adults? What is the #1 complaint by women? What is the #1 complaint by men? And what can we do make this whole things a little more enjoyable?

Joining me on the show is Rachel Hoover Canto, author of the book “Pretty Good Catholic: How to find, date, and marry someone who shares your faith.” We have a wonderful conversation where we discuss ways men can round out their interests beyond just Catholic things, the importance of meeting people, the value of non-exclusive dating, ways that women can show their interest, and how to start a conversation with people you are attracted to.

Pretty Good Catholic book link

Not sure how to start a conversation with a someone you find attractive? Download my free Dating Toolkit at www.drmariosacasa.com

Follow me on the socials:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa

Full Courses:

Dating Well: www.drmariosacasa/datingwell

Overcoming Stress and Anxiety: www.goodcatholic.com/product/overcoming-stress-and-anxiety/

The content of Always Hope is for purely educational reasons and is not meant as a substitute for proper diagnosis and/or professional counseling. If you need psychological or counseling services, please contact a trusted therapist for assistance.

Have you ever tried pursuing a dream only for it to blow up in your face? Have you followed God's call only to encounter hardships beyond anything you could have previously imagined? What do you do afterward? How do you pick up the pieces and keep going? That's what we are unpacking in today's episode of Always Hope.

In today's show, I explore why God allows us to fail, offer four steps for responding to failure, discuss mindset shifts that need to happen, and encourage you to begin again.

This is my first video episode, too. Check it out on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LO0pvZaIGgw

Not sure how to start a conversation with a someone you find attractive? Download my free Dating Toolkit at www.drmariosacasa.com

Follow me on the socials:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa

Full Courses:

Dating Well: www.drmariosacasa/datingwell

Overcoming Stress and Anxiety: www.goodcatholic.com/product/overcoming-stress-and-anxiety/

The content of Always Hope is for purely educational reasons and is not meant as a substitute for proper diagnosis and/or professional counseling. If you need counseling services, please contact a trusted therapist for assistance.

Have you struggled discerning God's plan for your life? Not sure how your emotional health impacts discernment? Do you know if you are healthy enough to start a relationship? If that's you, then stay tuned becuase you are going to get some great recommendations in this conversation.

Joining me on the pod today is Sr Josephine Garrett, licensed profressional counselor and all around super-mega-dope nun. In this episode, Sister shares her vocation story, we discuss some of the errors we’ve heard in young people’s discernment questioning, define basic principles of what is healthy enough, discuss qualities in life that aid good discernment, and share things that get in the way.

It's a lively conversation, where we share great stories and offer practical principles to help you grow in your capacity to discern God’s will. Don't miss it!

This is my final repost episode. I've been working hard behind the scenes these past couple of months and next week will launch the first episode post Willwoods. Thank you for the prayers and support. I'm looking forward to sharing the new things that are coming and continually serving you through Always Hope. 

Learn more about the podcast and the work I offer by visiting: www.drmariosacasa.com

Or join the conversation on the socials:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drmariosacasa/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmariosacasa/

Dating in your 30’s can be tough. Finding someone who matches your values, that you find attractive, and that is still single is a challenge. What should you be looking for? Where should you be looking? How do you find the balance between pursing career goals and dating?  

Joining me on the show today is Dr. Roy Salgado, counseling professor at the University of Holy Cross, in New Orleans, LA. Roy openly shares his personal experiences of dating in his 30’s, getting married at age 41, and draws upon his counseling knowledge to offer some guidance on the topic.

In today’s episode, we discuss the importance of assessing your priorities and life circumstances, practical ideas on how to find a quality person to date, how your thoughts influence your expectations when dating, ideas for how to properly evaluate the person you are dating, and how to date again following a divorce.

Want to learn how to get a conversation started with a girl you're interested in? Then head over to drmariosacasa.com and download the free Dating Toolkit. It'll teach you what to say to get a wonderful conversation up and running. 

Have questions about this episode? DM me on Intsagram @drmariosacasa

How do you know if you are growing in the spiritual life? How do you know if your prayers are doing anything? What are the markers of spiritual growth?

Joining me on the show today is Dr. Brant Pitre, Research Professor of Scripture at the Augustine Institute, Graduate School of Theology, to talk about his new book “The Introduction to the Spiritual Life.” In today’s episode, we discuss the foundations of prayer, why the Ten Commandments are not just rules but a path of love and growth, why our will is important as we conform to the Will of God, how to know if we are making progress in our spiritual lives, and why growth in virtue is a key sign. But we also talk about the hardships of faith, the uniqueness of this journey, what to do with unanswered prayers, and in-depth reflections on the biblical story of Jacob wrestling the angel and the parable of the persistent widow.

If you find this episode helpful, please leave a rating or write a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, share it on the socials, or simply tell a friend about it. Spread the word and the love found on Always Hope.

Have thoughts about this episode? Join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

Websites mentioned in the show: Dr. Brant Pitre’s website Introduction to the Spiritual Life on Amazon

Dr. Mario Sacasa welcomes Dr. Everett Worthington to the show to talk about the process and mechanisms of self-forgiveness. Dr. Worthington has over 30 years of research on forgiveness and his REACH model is one of the leading models in forgiveness therapies. They discuss the steps to take if you struggle with self-condemnation, how self-compassion is needed, and the difference between forgiving others vs yourself.

Websites Mentions in Show: Dr. Everett Worthington’s website Moving Forward Self-Forgiveness DIY Workbook Just Mercy book

I welcome Dr. Donald Songy to discuss the ways attachment needs impact dating. We start by giving a brief recap of attachment theory (hint: relationships are key to our mental health) and we dive into its application to dating, online dating, and the process of allowing a serious relationship to meet our needs for “felt security.”

Dr. Mario Sacasa Facebook

Dr. Mario Sacasa Instagram

Websites mentioned in the show:

Donaldsongytherapy.com

Why did God give us free will? Think about it. All the poor judgments made by humans, the evils we have committed, the collective sins of history… wouldn’t creation have been better off without free agency? By the end of this show, you’ll know why the answer to that question is an unequivocal “No.”

I bring back my good friend Dr. Tom Neal, and his patience, as he allows me to wrestle with these deep and troubling questions. Once again, his wisdom shines through in his answers. In this episode, we go after why God gave us free will, how without we could not love, the problem of moral evil, how we are not mere puppets in the hand of capricious God, why we need to cherish this supreme gift endowed on us, and glimpse of what our free will may look like in heaven.

I know I say this with all my episodes, but this truly is another gem of a show. At times, we get philosophical but hang it there, because it is worth it. You’ll walk way cherishing the gift of your freedom.

Don’t forget to subscribe to the show, share with friends, and hit me up on Facebook or Instagram, @drmariosacasa.

Websites mentioned in the show:Nealobstat.wordpress.com

Dr. Mario Sacasa welcomes back Fr Timothy Gallagher, popular author and sought-after lecturer on the discerning God’s will. In today’s show, they discuss whether or not God has a specific plan for our lives, what freedom do we have to forge our own direction, reframing discernment as a skill that needs to be developed, dealing with perceived failed discernments, and always choosing to “begin again” afterward.

When the show is done, please find me on Facebook or Instagram, @drmariosacasa, to offer your thoughts about today’s episode.

Websites mentioned in the show:Fr. Timothy Gallagher’s websiteOvercoming Spiritual Discouragement BookAlways Hope Episode 25: Spiritual Desolation with Fr Timothy Gallagher.