At a place like Duke where accomplishments and scores get you in and GPAs and theses carry you out, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the achievement-proves-worth cycle. And yet at the same time, God truly has brought each of us here to achieve incredible things with the gifts He’s given us!

So how are we supposed to pursue excellence in a healthy way? Turns out the answer is simple but the practice is challenging. Are you up for asking yourself difficult questions and discovering where you might be placing your worth? If you are, join us for this week’s episode of Friar Side Chats, and get ready to ask yourself seven whys...

And as a bonus, you’ll get to hear Fr. Mike’s one and only all-nighter experience!

Known as the patron of our difficult time, Saint Maximilian Kolbe is a modern witness of love and sacrifice in the face of great hatred and violence.

With the recent mass shootings in mind, this episode dives into what it means to love radically in a world of violence. We'll explore the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan friar who died in Auschwitz after sacrificing his life so that a fellow inmate could live.

Declared a martyr of charity, a distinction from a martyr of faith, this saint is a modern testimony to the triumph of love over hate. Although most of us will not be martyred for our faith, St. Maximillian Kolbe demonstrates how through our love we can all live out a particular type of martyrdom.

Parents. They cooked hundreds of meals for us, drove us to countless competitions and practices, and helped us become the people we are today. Of course we’re grateful! And yet, at the same time, we can find ourselves frustrated when we feel they’re holding on too tightly or pushing us out of the nest too soon or simply not living up to our expectations.

There’s no perfect path for navigating the ever-changing landscape of parent-child relationships — but there are some tips and strategies to help smooth out the process. With personal insights, scriptural encouragement, and a practical challenge for listeners, this episode will help you learn to love and relate to your parents in a fresh way! Definitely a must-listen for any young adult navigating their twenties!

This week on Friar Side Chats, Fr. Mike and Emma draw on the Gospel story of Mary and Martha and choosing the better part. It's a classic example of how our perspective and focus can completely shift our experience and relationship with Jesus.

Who will you identify with in the story? Are you a Mary or a Martha? (Spoiler: Emma and Fr. Mike are Marthas…) Are you driven more to contemplation or to action? Join the Friar Side Chats crew as they explore ways we can cultivate a spiritual life that finds Christ in both the quiet time and the busyness of everyday life.

Whether we’re running our favorite trail, soaking up some rays on the beach, or even just walking to class — it’s hard to deny that being in nature captures something in us. After all, God went wild when he created our world and He designed it all to be appreciated and loved by humanity!

Join Fr. Mike and Emma in this refreshing episode as they explore how they engage with God through nature and offer suggestions for how we, too, can hear God’s voice speaking to us through His creation. Maybe you’ll even be inspired to head outside after listening!

In the burning and collapse of the spire at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris the world lost an important piece of history, an intricate work of art, a teacher for the people, a sacred place to pray, and so much more.

Here at Duke, we're blessed to see and encounter beautiful buildings everyday — but what do they mean to us? Do we take the time to consider the greater purpose of places like the Duke Chapel and Notre Dame?

This weekend, join Fr. Mike and Emma as they explore the transcendent nature of places like Notre Dame, awe-inspiring churches here in North America, and how we can better appreciate the sacred spaces in our everyday lives.

Why does stepping away from campus or just into the summer often find us falling away from our Mass and prayer commitment? Maybe we can move from pressing pause on our spiritual journey to seeing the summer months for what they really are: an opportunity to dig more deeply and shore ourselves up for the busy academic year ahead!

With tips for forming new summer routines to help you along the way, join Fr. Mike and Emma as they explore how we can make the most of this time of “not school.”

Silence and stillness are so crucial for us as humans: for our growth, for self-discovery, and for our relationship with God.

But why is it often so awkward and uncomfortable for us to sit with ourselves in silence — in prayer or otherwise? Is there a way to move past the frustration of feeling like you’re just hearing your own voice?

YES. Yes, there really is. In this episode, Fr. Mike and Emma share their personal experiences with growing to appreciate silence and explore the ways in which cultivating silence is a marathon and not a sprint.

Focusing in on the Duke Catholic Center’s Lenten theme of Forgiveness, Fr. Mike and Emma dig into the three different aspects we most often struggle with: forgiving ourselves, forgiving others, and seeking forgiveness from Jesus. With great tips for finding and giving forgiveness without reservation, as well as top book and movie recommendations for exploring the theme more deeply — this episode will inspire you to better love those around you.

Duke alum and former walk-on quarterback Rob Collins joins Emma and Fr. Mike in a deep discussion on how faith can fit into the high-pressure careers that so many Duke students aspire to. Drawing on his personal experience as a Duke engineer and consultant at Deloitte, Rob shares how getting back to basics has been key for his career and his life.

In a world where it can be all too easy to step back from our faith when we are so caught up in trying to achieve our dreams, Rob outlines how none of it matters without faith and personal relationship with Christ.