Like A Mother with Katie McGrady

In this heartfelt and refreshingly honest episode of Like A Mother, Katie McGrady sits down with Jennie Bradley Lichter, President of the March for Life, legal professional, and mother of three, for a conversation that’s equal parts personal testimony and cultural commentary.

Jennie shares her journey from high-powered attorney, including roles at a major law firm, in the White House, and at Catholic University, to a mom discerning when to pull back, when to lean in, and how to prioritize her family while still answering God’s call to serve the pro-life mission at a national level.

Together, Katie and Jennie explore:

• the myth of “having it all”
• what it means to discern professional seasons as a Catholic mother
• how young children and high-level leadership can coexist
• and what it’s like to lead the March for Life at one of the most culturally charged moments in the pro-life movement’s history

Jennie's story is one of grace, grit, and quiet confidence that God leads in every season, even in unexpected ways.

Jennie Bradley Lichter is the President of the March for Life and a seasoned legal professional who has worked in the White House and at major Catholic institutions. A wife, mother of three, and dedicated advocate for life, she brings both conviction and compassion to her leadership in one of the nation’s most high-profile pro-life organizations.

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this special solo episode of Like A Mother, Katie McGrady steps away from the usual format to reflect on the heartbreaking tragedy at Annunciation Catholic School and Parish in Minneapolis, where a school shooting during Mass claimed the lives of two children and critically injured others.

With raw honesty and a mother’s heart, Katie shares her personal reaction: the helplessness, the grief, the fear for her own children, and the overwhelming sadness felt across the Catholic community. She invites listeners to sit in the discomfort, to ask the hard questions, “Lord, do you not care?”, and to consider how we might cling to Christ in the face of unimaginable suffering.

This episode isn’t a political analysis or theological treatise. It’s a space to grieve, to pray, and to seek God’s presence in the storm. Katie offers personal reflections, scriptural comfort, and a practical approach to talking with children about tragedy.

She also shares how Family Mass Prep, a series she produces with her husband for the Hallow app, was used in that very school, making this sorrow hit even closer to home.

We grieve. We pray. We hold on.

• OSV News Coverage of the Annunciation Shooting
• Pray with others on the Hallow App – Join Hallow’s prayer campaign for Annunciation 

This episode is sponsored by the University of Dallas: Free Guide on Discerning College Choices from the University of Dallas 

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

It’s within our homes that our kids learn how to be people – good people, virtuous people, holy people. Elizabeth Busby shares how we can build a home that is rooted in trust, gives space for our kids to learn to be themselves and grow in virtue, and offers practical insights into what moms must do to maintain not only their sanity, but their sanctity. 

Links: 

• https://tobinstitute.org/events/fresh-start/ 

This episode is sponsored by the University of Dallas: Learn more at udallas.edu/hope. 

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

Originally aired in December 2022, this conversation with Emily Frase remains one of our most downloaded episodes—and for good reason. Emily gets real about the complicated, unfiltered reality of NFP, Catholic motherhood, and what happens when doing everything “right” still leads to suffering. Her honesty struck a chord with so many listeners navigating similar tensions in their own marriages, spiritual lives, and motherhood.

Emily is the founder of Total Whine, a ministry and platform where she advocates for truth-telling, compassionate accompaniment, and a deeper understanding of what faithful Catholic living actually looks like in the mess.

Want to hear how Emily’s story has unfolded since?
Don’t miss her brand-new episode on Hope Stories with Sister Josephine Garrett, where she goes even deeper—sharing about spiritual darkness, trauma, therapy, and a breakthrough moment that changed everything. It’s raw, redemptive, and full of grace.

Listen now on Hope Stories

This episode is sponsored by the University of Dallas. Free Guide on Discerning College Choices from the University of Dallas 

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

When catastrophic floods devastated the Texas Hill Country earlier this month, Kathryn Whitaker responded with action—raising $34,000 in just a few days to directly support impacted families through gift cards distributed via 4-H agents and local parishes. In this raw and timely episode, Kathryn and Katie McGrady talk about grief, generosity, trauma, and what it means to show up for others in moments of profound tragedy.

Together, they explore:

• The psychological toll of weather disasters
• Why people choose to give in moments of crisis
• Teaching kids how to grieve and serve
• The long tail of recovery, even after headlines fade
• How Catholic Charities and the Church remain on the frontlines

This episode is a heartfelt call to action, a meditation on mercy, and a testament to the power of small acts of love in the face of unspeakable loss.

Links:

• Donate or support flood recovery through Catholic Charities San Antonio:
   https://linktr.ee/CatholicCharitiesSA
• Follow Kathryn Whitaker:
   Website: kathrynwhitaker.net
   Instagram: @kathrynwhitakertx
• Learn more about OSV Podcasts: osvpodcasts.com

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

When Pope Francis passed away in April 2025, Catholic media entered an intense and emotional season of reporting. Among those on the ground in Rome was Gretchen R. Crowe, Editor-in-Chief of OSV News and a Catholic mom of three. In this episode, Katie McGrady talks with Gretchen about the whirlwind of covering a papal funeral, the interregnum, and the election of Pope Leo, all while navigating the personal cost of being away from her family.

 Links:

• Visit OSV News for coverage and daily updates
• Subscribe to The Bulletin, OSV News’ daily newsletter: osvnews.com
• Follow Gretchen Crowe on Twitter/X: @GretchenOSV
• Listen to OSV’s daily newscast: OSV NewsCast

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

What if the best way to raise a curious, creative, and confident child… is to let them be bored?

This week on Like A Mother, Katie McGrady is joined by Catholic school librarian and mother of two boys, Elizabeth Nava, to talk about parenting through summer break, encouraging a love for reading, and why building a “capacity for boredom” might be the best gift you can give your kids.

They unpack:

• The joy of summer reading competitions (and Outback Steakhouse gift cards)
• How to actually get your kids excited to read
• Why audiobooks and podcasts are secret parenting superpowers
• Setting healthy screen boundaries without guilt
• Why boredom fuels imagination, wonder, and resilience

This episode is equal parts nostalgic, practical, and empowering—perfect for moms seeking a more peaceful, purposeful summer at home.

Plus, Katie shares her own story of catching her family in a “summer snapshot” moment, and why it was better than any Instagram photo could’ve been.

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

In this rewind-worthy conversation, Katie is joined by Elizabeth Nava — Catholic mom, school librarian, homemaker, Etsy shop owner, and everyday theologian of the domestic church. Together, they dive deep into the danger of absolutes in motherhood — the “I’ll always” and “I’ll never” — and explore what real discernment looks like in the mess of everyday life.

Elizabeth shares candidly about her identity as a homemaker, navigating secondary infertility, returning to work for the sake of her family, and discovering God’s grace in the pivot. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, a working mom, or somewhere in between, this episode is a warm, thoughtful reflection on surrender, flexibility, and living the vocation of motherhood with purpose.

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

"Joy is a fact, not a feeling. Christ is our joy — whether we feel it or not." - Dr. Peter Kreeft 

In the midst of life’s whirlwind — from papal funerals and conclave coverage to First Communion prep and family chaos — Katie McGrady sits down with renowned Catholic philosopher and author Dr. Peter Kreeft for a conversation unlike any other on Like a Mother. Together, they dive deep into the mystery of joy — what it really means, how it's deeper than fleeting feelings, and why trust in God is central to experiencing true joy. Kreeft offers timeless wisdom about accepting suffering, resisting over-complication, and living simply with love, even when life is far from simple. This episode is both deeply philosophical and incredibly relatable for parents, caregivers, and anyone seeking to find joy amidst uncertainty and suffering.

Plus, Katie shares how her family found practical joy in the middle of life’s craziness — Chick-fil-A, pickleball, and all. This is a heartening and challenging episode that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.

When Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday during the Jubilee Year of Hope, the world stopped—and so did a family trip to Rome.

In this deeply personal episode of Like A Mother, host Katie McGrady opens her heart to share the intimate, real-time journey of processing the death of Pope Francis. From receiving the call to cover his funeral for CNN and SiriusXM, to breaking the news to her young daughters, Katie invites listeners into the sacred tension of grief, history, and motherhood.

She shares behind-the-scenes moments from covering the Vatican, her family’s original plans to attend the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, and her unforgettable personal encounter with Pope Francis himself.

This is more than Catholic commentary—this is a moment of memory, motherhood, and meaning. Tune in as Katie reflects on:

• The emotional impact of Pope Francis’ death
• How her daughter’s quiet faith reframed their family’s journey
• The beauty of apostolic succession—and how to talk about it with your kids
• The Church’s unique ability to blend grief with mission

A heartfelt episode about faith, family, and what comes next for the Catholic Church.

An OSV Podcasts original. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.