The final episode! 

116 episodes, 76k+ downloads, and we’re calling it a day. 

Thank you sincerely so much to everyone who has listened, written in, and shared this podcast over the years. I'll continue writing on Substack and may even have new podcast projects in the works, so please follow along there to stay in touch: https://bornofwonder.substack.com/ 

Also, if you email me ([email protected]) a list of all the references/voices you hear in the Born of Wonder introduction (and don’t google!) I’ll send you a bottle of holy water I collected myself from a well in Ireland. :)

[just the first three people, it’s not magical refilling water, at least I don’t think so…]

Thank you sincerely for listening and sharing this podcast over the years. I hope it has given you wonder and delight and reminded you that it is a beautiful world we live in (truly) -

“we make idols of our concepts but wisdom is born of wonder.”

On this podcast episode Katie and Haley discuss her two new books, focusing in particular on the Catholic Imagination (what exactly is that?), the sacramental reality of the world, and how reading a good story can change your life. We also dive a little bit into some of the more unfortunate online discussions re. women that have been circulating lately and how limiting they are. Instead of boxing ourselves into narrow images of womanhood and motherhood, Haley and Katie discuss the ways we can open our minds and hearts to the many beautiful ways of being a woman in the world.

Highly encourage you to check out Haley’s books (they would make the perfect Christmas present!) and follow along with her work. Thanks again to Haley for coming on the podcast!

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Women of the Catholic Imagination: Twelve Inspired Novelists You Should Know from Amazon, Word on Fire, or wherever you buy books.

The Catholic Kids' Cookbook: Holy Days and Heavenly Food from Amazon, Word on Fire, or wherever you buy books.

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Ann Kennedy Smith takes seriously the old saying “behind every great man is a great woman,” bringing to light the complicated, illuminating, fascinating stories of women who made their mark and maybe haven’t gotten their due recognition. She brings us into the beauty, sadness, and joy of women’s lives and brings an important, compelling perspective. She is the writer behind the popular "Cambridge Ladies Dining Society" Substack and an independent scholar currently focusing on the lives of Victorian women (and beyond) at Cambridge. 

 Ann conducts herself with class, kindness, and genuine curiosity. She teaches us there are seasons of life for everything - for children and snatching moments of reading in between diaper changes, and for burying oneself in a dusty library at a romantic and beautiful university.

On this episode, Katie and Ann were able to discuss some of the specific women she has profiled in her writing (including Katie's personal favorite, Sylvia Plath), how to balance different priorities in different seasons of life, and how to lean into your creative niche.

The Cambridge Bride

Sylvia Plath at Home: Books & Babies & Beef Stews

The fascinating Miss Pym

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/52mOSwZguzpe6g4gi1OAiz?si=M-Y2Lk4rRFqTJmgVoTWNug 

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The Hillbilly Thomists are a band of friars of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). After playing music together for several years, they released their debut album (The Hillbilly Thomists) in 2017, which reached #3 on the Billboard bluegrass chart and mostly consisted in bluegrass standards and Americana favorites.

Since then, the friars in the band have been doing what Dominican friars do: contemplating, studying, and preaching. Their most recent album, Marigold, released in July 2024.

Katie was joined on the podcast by band member, Fr. Justin Bolger O.P. Fr. Justin hails from a family of seven and grew up in Maryland. He studied business at the University of Baltimore and earned a Masters in Philosophical Studies from Mt. St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD. He was also a singer/songwriter and recording artist with his sister Margaret. He is now the Associate Chaplain of the University for the Catholic Community at Brown University.

Katie had such a great time talking to Fr. Justin. He is very gracious, funny, introspective, and clearly has a true love for the music he is playing. We hear about some of the background behind some favorite Thomist tunes and what it’s like for the brothers to all play together. We also discuss the many deep, compelling themes to be found in traditional music and how their band offers the culture a serious, but joyful, contemplation both of the Last Things and the True things. Thanks so much to Fr. Justin for coming on.

Go check out their music, and see them on tour if you can!

Visit: https://www.hillbillythomists.com/

Stream The Hillbilly Thomists on Spotify, iTunes, wherever you download your music.

Upcoming shows: https://www.hillbillythomists.com/tour

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Katie recently visited The Library of Congress for the first time. Her guide was a dear friend, Joanna Colclough - a reference librarian specializing in newspapers and current periodicals at the Library of Congress. Tune into this podcast to hear some highlights from our tour, how you can become a researcher at the Library, learn what the Library actually does (I had no idea), how do you solve a problem like Maria (you’ll hear what I mean), and most all, celebrate the history and preservation of knowledge and the written word. I think you’ll be wonderfully encouraged!

I want to thank Joanna for her incredible tour and I was so thrilled to see her truly in her element. The Library is lucky to have her! 

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Library of Congress Website: https://www.loc.gov/

How to Use the Reading Room (featuring Joanna pushing a cart! Hi!):

https://www.loc.gov/research-centers/newspaper-and-current-periodical/about-this-research-center/using-the-reading-room/

Close ups of the contents of Lincoln’s pockets:

https://www.loc.gov/resource/lprbscsm.scsm1049/?st=gallery

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“Analog” technology (things like clocks, dimmer switches, speakers, microphones, walkie-talkies, thermometers, etc.) are directly related to the function which they are performing. They are, in other words, simple. You talk into a microphone - you hear a sound. You look at a clock - it tells the time. You set an alarm - it rings. There’s not too much of a gap between experience and function. Digital technology, however, is incredibly complex. Smartphones, robotics, AI, cyber security systems, computers - all these things do not necessarily have direct relations between their uses and their functions. They are not analogous. Instead they are the result of a billion computations and numbers very few of us understand. 

In this podcast discussion we cover the practicalities of life as an analog family, what drives Katherine’s decisions around screen use and her family, how she’s raising ‘analog’ teens in digital world, and why parents need to get honest with themselves about their own screen use in order for there to be any real change for kids.

Although all this talk of screens and the immense cost it has on our lives and our kids can be heavy, ultimately this is an incredibly positive discussion. When we give up our obsession with our phones, we’re free - to have experiences, to adventure through life as a family. This is about liberation, discovery, and reclaiming our lives.

And special thanks to my daughter, Jojo, for her introduction to this podcast episode.

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Martinko makes regular appearances on TV, radio stations, and podcasts across Canada and the U.S., as well as in-person presentations around the country, to talk about curbing digital device use. She writes about digital minimalism, parenting, travel, food, and more in her popular and fast-growing email newsletter, The Analog Family. She has a new weekly column in the Globe and Mail, Canada’s premier newspaper.

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Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

What is the right thing to do? 

This is a question that we're all confronted with at some point. Big decisions, little decisions, all can be incredibly difficult to discern what to do. And making choices that give us flexibility, time, and opportunities for creativity can make all the difference when it comes to happiness and pursuing the dreams we're meant to live out (especially for parents!).

On the podcast today, Katie is joined by life consultant, occasional theology professor, and Substack writer Kerri Christopher to discuss expat life, mothering and creating, and discerning that 'still small voice.' It was a great conversation filled with practical tips and encouragement! 

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Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

On this interview Katie chats with her husband Chris who decided to take the plunge and switch back to a flip phone. We talk about how it's going, what he loves about it, and the genuine inconveniences he has to put up with (and why it's still worth it). We have a far reaching conversation on smartphones, memory, technology generally, the role of physicality, time, friendship, community, and independent thought. 

Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

The cosmic battle for Good and Evil - the power of the individual - The Triumph of Love - the malleability of time - Our place in the Cosmos - Doubt - Hope - Art - These are the many topics of American author Madeleine L'Engle, most famously the author of A Wrinkle in Time. What does L'Engle teach us about faith and art and life?

Learn why she defended Meg Murry/O'Keefe against women disappointed she chose motherhood/marriage over a career. Learn why it's important to doubt (and believe) like a child. Why do questions matter more than answers? And what about those astronauts who really did enter another pocket of Time?  Where did she get the idea for Mrs Which, Mrs Who, and Mrs Whatsit? What can her struggle to get published teach us about creativity?

All this and more on today's episode - THE FIRST episode of a new season, Season 8!!! 

"This is the irrational season

When love blooms bright and wild.

Had Mary been filled with reason

There’d have been no room for the child."

Come to Ireland with me in October 2024! 

Whether it's a season of the year or a season of life, living joyfully requires us to accept the season we are in - and even to embrace it! Maybe in summer you need to cook 'no heat' recipes, drink sangria, listen to Spanish guitar, and take siestas. Stop fighting it! The same goes for seasons with a sleepless baby (or giving birth!) or a season of self denial or seasons that are more naturally easy for us. Accept + Embrace. An encouraging and fun episode including poetry, great music, and tips for those of us who suffer from reverse SAD (seasonal affective disorder) in muggy summertime. 

****Join me and Christy for a Zoom Wednesday July 10th!!****

Join Zoom Meeting

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