Kathleen Sprows Cummings brings Catholic history vividly into the present—illuminating not only where the Church has been, but where it may be headed next.

In this episode of For Good, Cummings, the John A. O’Brien Collegiate Professor of American Studies and History and inaugural director of Notre Dame’s Global Catholic Research Initiative, reflects on the people and movements that have shaped Catholic life across generations—from the women religious whose work helped build Notre Dame to the growing influence of the global Church today.

She also shares timely insight into the election of Pope Leo XIV, the growing role of women’s leadership in the Church, the call for Catholics around the world to listen and discern together, and why Notre Dame is uniquely positioned to become a leading center for the study of global Catholicism.

Join us for a fascinating conversation about faith, history, and the evolving role of the Church in a rapidly changing world.

0:00 — The hidden history of Visitation Hall at Remick Commons

4:05 — A Saint of Our Own, canonization, and the making of Catholic heroes

9:04 — From American Catholicism to the global Church

12:18 — Notre Dame archives and preserving Catholic history

15:15 — The election of the first American pope

20:27 — Pope Leo XIV’s first year and the future of the Church

23:47 — Pope Leo XIV, politics, and moral leadership

27:00 — How the Church is rethinking women’s leadership

34:05 — Leading a global Church

37:12 — Notre Dame and the future of global Catholicism

40:00 — Finding hope in the global Church

Mentors, teammates, and now the athletes Mike Norment leads have shaped his journey and his approach as Notre Dame’s Peterson Family Head Swimming and Diving Coach. His focus: building a program defined by character, consistency, and care for the individual.
In this episode of For Good, Coach Norment shares his path into coaching, what defines a strong team culture, and the values that drive success.
At Notre Dame, those values come together through top-tier athletics, rigorous academics, and a faith that anchors it all.
Listen now to hear how he’s developing leaders for life, one student-athlete at a time.

0:00 – Meet Coach Michael Norment

4:24 – Role Models & Breaking the Mold

10:03 – A Calling to Coaching

11:40 – Character Before Performance

13:47 – Coming to Notre Dame

16:19 – The Student-Athlete Experience at Notre Dame

18:26 – Raising the Standard of Notre Dame Swimming

24:53 – Elevating Notre Dame Diving

26:24 – A Legacy in Motion

At Notre Dame, formation happens in classrooms, residence halls, and even on the football sidelines.

Rev. Nate Wills, C.S.C., brings that mission to life every day. As a Holy Cross priest, faculty member in the Alliance for Catholic Education, and chaplain to the Fighting Irish football team, Fr. Nate accompanies students across many dimensions of University life: celebrating dorm Mass, mentoring future Catholic school leaders, and praying with players before kickoff.

In this episode of For Good, Fr. Nate reflects on his path to the priesthood, the transformative impact of Catholic education, and the joy of walking with students as they grow in faith, purpose, and community.

Tune in to hear how Notre Dame’s mission comes to life through presence, prayer, and relationships that continue long after graduation.

0:00 – Meet Fr. Nate Wills C.S.C.: formation and call to the priesthood

7:16 – ACE and the mission of Catholic education

8:57 – The Remick Leadership Program

10:42 – Higher-Powered Learning, technology, and AI13:28 – Life as Notre Dame football team chaplain14:42 – Holy Medals and football traditions17:07 – Writing the Pray Like a Champion Today book

20:24 – Accompanying students at Keough Hall

24:46 – Students engaging with their faith at Notre Dame29:09 – The Pod Quad podcast

31:46 – Lent and Holy Week reflection

Notre Dame’s mission extends beyond campus and into the neighborhoods, partnerships, and relationships that shape our shared future.

Few people embody that spirit more fully than Tim Sexton ‘90. As associate vice president for public affairs, Tim has spent decades building bridges between the University and the South Bend community—a lifelong calling rooted in family, relationships, and the belief that Notre Dame and South Bend thrive together.

In this episode of For Good, Tim reflects on the past 25 years of collaborative partnerships across the region, from the Robinson Community Learning Center to transformative initiatives like the Link Trail, Colfax Corner, and the new Veldman Psychology Clinic. 

Tune in to discover how Notre Dame’s mission comes to life beyond campus, and why that shared work matters now more than ever.

0:00 – Tim Sexton: a lifelong son of Notre Dame and South Bend

2:57 – Robinson Community Learning Center: building trust in the neighborhood

10:25 – Connecting students to downtown South Bend

13:53 – Evolving Notre Dame’s community engagement 

18:31 – Transforming downtown South Bend

21:13 – South Bend then and now

25:45 – What’s next for the region

26:46 – Beyond podcast: stories of connection

28:59 – A future in South Bend

Lily Joy Santos ’28 and Giovanni Nasello ’27 are much more than just voices in your voicemail. As student callers at ND Listens, they embody the spirit of gratitude, curiosity, and care that makes the Notre Dame family so special. 
In this episode of For Good, Lily Joy and Giovanni reflect on how ND Listens, Notre Dame’s student engagement center, builds authentic connections, fosters community across generations of Domers, and offers students the unique opportunity to share their love for Notre Dame with alumni, parents, and friends.
Whether they’re expressing thanks, celebrating milestones, or simply taking time to listen, the students at ND Listens are a true force for good—on the phone and in the lives they touch through each heartfelt conversation.

0:00 – Meet the students behind ND Listens

5:35 – How financial aid makes Notre Dame possible

9:21 – The different ways ND Listens connects

11:26 – Measuring success, nurturing relationships

15:42 – Teamwork, fun, and building community

17:36 – How ND Listens shapes the student experience

19:43 – Carrying ND Listens into the future

For Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., president emeritus of Notre Dame and longtime priest-in-residence at Sorin Hall, leadership at Our Lady’s University begins with faith, humility, and service—virtues instilled by his parents and deepened through the mentorship of his dear friend, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C.

In this episode of For Good, Father Malloy reflects with gratitude and wonder on an extraordinary life of service, sharing his memories of guiding the University through triumphs and tragedies, partnering with the City of South Bend to help renew the local community, and teaching generations of Notre Dame students to be intentional and present with themselves and one another.

0:00 – Meet Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C.

1:48 – Continuity of Holy Cross leadership

7:25 – An encounter with Fr. Ted Hesburgh

10:06 – A humble upbringing

12:35 – Life as Notre Dame’s longest-serving priest-in-residence

16:10 – How Notre Dame students have changed over time

19:20 – Reshaping Notre Dame’s relationship with South Bend

21:45 – A lifelong passion for teaching

24:07 – A global Notre Dame and lessons from travel

25:33 – Major events as president

27:35 – A mentor’s words

30:16 – A Christmas blessing for the Notre Dame family

For Tim Dolezal ’02, vice president and chief investment officer at Notre Dame, managing the University’s investment portfolio is more than a financial responsibility—it’s a mission-driven calling a lifetime in the making.

In this episode of For Good, Tim shares how Notre Dame’s long-term investment strategy has earned top-tier returns while prioritizing expanded scholarship support, honoring donor intent, and advancing the University’s mission and values. 

Join us as Tim reflects on how he and his team of fellow Notre Dame alums strike a careful balance between performance and purpose, and why they are so committed to, and grateful for, their work on behalf of the “family business” at Our Lady’s University.

0:00 – Meet Tim Dolezal

2:12 – Notre Dame’s long-term investing approach

5:58 – Lessons from predecessors and leadership philosophy

8:33 – Endowment structure

10:40 – Endowment payout and impact

12:00 – Faith and family commitment

14:39 – Partnering with external managers

18:30 – Mission-driven team

23:12 – Markets, staying on target, and AI

26:26 – How benefactors can participate in the endowment

27:15 – Cultivating hope through students, leadership, and mission

Micah Shrewsberry began his career just a few miles away from Notre Dame’s campus in a coaching role that required him to drive the team bus and wash the players’ jerseys. From those humble beginnings, Micah has steadily climbed the ranks in a career that has taken him to the coaching staffs of the Boston Celtics, USA Basketball’s U19 Men’s National Team, and now Notre Dame men’s basketball as the Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Coach.

In this episode of For Good, Micah reflects on how the game has changed with NIL and the transfer portal, how Notre Dame Athletics maintains its unique identity, and why he’s committed to building a sustainable, successful program the Notre Dame way. 

Tip off the new basketball season with us as Micah shares why Notre Dame’s player development approach appeals to exceptional student-athletes—and how his team is creating a strong, distinctive culture that will soon have the Fighting Irish competing for championships.

0:00 - Meet Micah Shrewsberry

1:14 - Impact of NIL and the transfer portal

5:02 - Building the program the Notre Dame way

7:48 - Notre Dame student-athlete experience

9:37 - Micah’s values and character

11:04 - Recruiting, developing, and investing in players that fit Notre Dame

15:08 - Building community and team culture

18:25 - Looking ahead to the upcoming 2025-26 season

20:13 - Lessons as a coach and a parent

25:04 - The power of program support

26:59 - Call on fans to fill Purcell Pavilion

28:40 - Micah’s coaching journey

32:23 - What cultivating hope means for Micah

For Austin Wyman ’23, a current Ph.D. student in quantitative psychology at Notre Dame, the study of mental health is not just academic—it’s personal. Motivated by a family tragedy that might have been prevented with better access to mental health care, Austin has made it his life’s work to understand mental illness, advocate for early intervention, and help others get the support they need before a moment of crisis.

In this episode of For Good, Austin shares how he found solace by telling his story, why he chose to remain at Notre Dame for graduate school, and how his research is helping clinicians better diagnose and treat mental illness. 

Tune in to hear why Austin finds hope in the growing conversations around mental health—and how combating stigma may be the key to preventing future tragedies.

0:00 – Meet Austin Wyman

1:09 – A moment of crisis leads to family tragedy

6:32 – “What Would You Fight For” commercial

8:17 – Why Notre Dame—mission and culture

10:30 – Covid-19 pandemic and mental health

12:09 – Quantitative psychology research

16:56 – Understanding the rise in mental health diagnoses

19:09 – Notre Dame’s commitment to combat the mental health crisis

25:50 – Career aspirations and mental health advocacy

31:47 – Cultivating hope amid mental health crisis

For Shannon Cullinan ’93, executive vice president at the University of Notre Dame, there is no challenge Notre Dame cannot navigate—so long as it leans in and stays true to its mission.

In this episode of For Good, Shannon discusses the financial headwinds facing Notre Dame—and all of higher education—and shares how the University is well-positioned to weather times of uncertainty thanks to its stable leadership, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment to its people.

Join us as Shannon reflects on what drew him to Notre Dame and how he continues to find joy, optimism, and profound hope on campus every day.

0:00 – Meet Shannon Cullinan

1:29 – Financial headwinds

4:38 – National trends and peer insights

8:32 – Finding hope in our students, faculty, staff, and mission

10:46 – AI opportunities without compromising on people

12:24 – Investment excellence and mission alignment

13:35 – Capital projects and campus life

22:28 – Forbes names Notre Dame #1 large employer

22:50 – Reflections on family and why Notre Dame