Matters of Soul Importance with Roxane Salonen

Joanne Poehls grew up 12 miles southwest of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, where her dad worked as a grain farmer and her mother was a gardener who loved growing flowers and vegetables. With her four older siblings and a twin sister, Joanne enjoyed the outdoors, the farm animals, and the rural life that afforded space and peace, along with hard work. Now married to Jeff for 32 years, she is once again in the country, living on a five-acre farm site in Sabin, Minnesota. Along with mothering their four now-grown sons, Joanne has worked primarily in the medical secretarial field in various clinic and hospital settings, and currently is employed at a speech therapy clinic in Fargo. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, bicycling and stretching her soul through involvement in various faith groups and ministries.

SHOW NOTES:

• Biography of Saint Faustina Kowalksa, whom Joanne referenced: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/stfaustina/bio

Brittany Poppe is a Christian abortion recovery coach, pro-life speaker, and advocate for truth and healing. She helps women partner with God to find freedom and restore their hearts after abortion. She hosts "Abortion Recovery for Christian Women," a globally ranked top 2% Christian podcast that equips women with biblical guidance, hope, and practical steps toward emotional and spiritual healing.

Passionate about sharing God's truth in love, Brittany inspires women to experience wholeness in Christ while raising awareness about the true cost of abortion and the redeeming power of God's grace.

SHOW NOTES:

• Brittany's podcast: Abortion Recovery for Christian Women: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/abortion-recovery-pro-life-abortion-pill-biblical-healing/id1668717310

• Instagram: @brittanypoppe

• Website: brittanypoppe.com

• Email: [email protected]

• Link to May 10 Mother's Day "Faith Conversations" feature on motherhood featuring Brittany and her mother, Tami Berry: Mother, daughter find their way back to one another after hidden abortion

Lisa M. Hendey is a bestselling author, speaker, and founder of CatholicMom.com. A lifelong advocate for faith-filled living, she encourages readers to deepen their relationship with Jesus through storytelling, Scripture reflection, and practical application. Lisa's Chime Travelers children's book project is now streaming as an animated series. She speaks internationally on the intersection of faith and daily life.

SHOW NOTES:

• Lisa's new devotional, Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way - A Weekly Devotional, a 52-week prayer devotional tool that can be started at any time of the year, and combines lectio divina with personal storytelling and daily quotes from saints, scripture, literature, movies and more: https://amzn.to/3O1v2to

• Lisa's Chime Travelers animated series for children, now streaming on Hallow and FORMED apps: https://www.chimetravelers.org/

• Roxane's interview on Father Patrick Peyton, whom Lisa mentioned as pivotal: https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/salonen-who-was-father-patrick-peyton

• The website Lisa founded: https://www.catholicmom.com/

• Connect with Lisa at www.lisahendey.com or @lisahendey on Substack and social media

Shawn Hagstrom, wife of Mike and mother of two adoptive children, Therese and Joseph, is also the grandmother of 11-year-old identical twin boys, James and Oliver. Shawn recently retired from her 40-year teaching career, through which she nurtured pre-school children in both secular and Catholic school settings. The Hagstroms, longtime residents of Fargo, also have a longtime marriage of 42 years. In her new life of retirement, Shawn has been enjoying spending time with her mother, going on nature walks, and riding bike.

SHOW NOTES:

• "Dear Birthmother" book by Kathleen Silber and Phyllis Speedlin: https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Birthmother-Kathleen-Silber/dp/0931722209?

• National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW) is observed from April 19 to April 25, 2026.

Kimberly Souba is a writer, communications specialist, and former educator who taught for 15 years. Originally from Illinois, she now lives in Fargo, North Dakota, where she continues her work in communications, storytelling, and advocacy. Kimberly speaks openly about her journey of healing from childhood sexual abuse, parental abandonment, and seasons of deep struggle. Through those experiences, she eventually rediscovered and embraced her faith in Jesus and his Church, which became a central part of her healing.

SHOW NOTES:

• Kimberly's website: www.ksouba.com

• Kimberly's Podcast (Butterfly Girl): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/butterfly-girl/id1859235644

• Kimberly's poetry book: From Death to New Life: The Transformation of a Soul

• Kimberly's children's book: A Caterpillar's Journey

• Kimberly's children's book: Flight of the Butterfly

• Kimbery's faith-based coloring and activity storybook: Miriam's Heavenly Tea Party

• Kimberly's book: Ellie's Brave Voice (coming out in late April)

• Roxane's "Faith Conversations" article on Kimberly's journey: Local author seeks to help kids who've been abused (Oct. 12, 2025)

• Sarah Kroger's song, "Belovedness": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwSyLLHdvlo

Other resources suggested by Kimberly:

• Healing of Memories: Prayer and Confession Steps to Inner Healing by Dennis and Matthew Linn

• Jesus I Trust in You by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, S.V.

• Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard

• No More Faking Fine by Esther Fleece

• Your New New by Esther Fleece Allen

• Forgiving Mother: A Maria Novena of Healing and Peace by Marge Steinhage

• Living for today: A Memoir by Erin Merryn

• Stolen Innocence: Triumphing Over a Childhood Broken by Abuse by Erin Merryn

• An Unimaginable Act: Overcoming & Preventing Child Abuse Through Erin's Law by Erin Merryn

Our guest today, Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda, was born in Cuba and grew up in Puerto Rico.

She is a freelance writer and the author of several books, most notably, the award-winning, "The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma," and was recently named "Promoter of the Cause for Blessed Stanley Rother."

Maria and her husband, Michael, live in Oklahoma City and have four adult children and 15 grandchildren.

SHOW NOTES:

• Maria's latest book, "The Shepherd Who Didn't Run: Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr from Oklahoma": https://www.amazon.com/Shepherd-Who-Didnt-Run-Oklahoma/dp/1681924560/ref

• Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine website: https://rothershrine.org/

• An Ordinary Martyr: The Life and Death of Blessed Stanley Rother video: https://youtu.be/hsOvNtoZVzc?si=GE8pTGqHgLxc3A4b

• Maria's first book, "Their Faith Has Touched Us: The Legacies of Three Young Oklahoma City Bombing Victims": https://www.amazon.com/Their-Faith-Has-Touched-Us/dp/158051023X

• Article for CatholicMom.com by Roxane after her summer 2025 visit to Oklahoma City and the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine: https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/blessed-stanley-rother-a-shepherd-worth-knowing

Our guest today, Peter Andrastek, is married with 8 children, 5 to 20 years old, and holds a master's degree in pastoral theology from Ave Maria University.

Peter has worked with seminarians and clergy on formation, taught graduate-level theology, and brought his teaching gifts into numerous parishes, dioceses, movements, and institutions in the Church. He currently advises a team that serves over 200 parishes.

SHOW NOTES:

• Peter's apostolate's website: evangelicalcatholic.org.

• Toward an Apostolic Church: https://evangelicalcatholic.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/White-Paper_Andrastek_Feb2025.pdf.

• 10:10 Challenge: https://store.evangelicalcatholic.org/products/the-10-10-challenge-10-weeks-10-ways-to-a-jesus-led-life?

• Mission Ready Friendship: https://www.avemariapress.com/products/mission-ready-friendship?

• Notre Dame's Church Life Journal: https://churchlifejournal.nd.edu/articles/authors/peter-andrastek/

Our guest today, Laurie Lind, grew up in Lairmore and Fargo, North Dakota, in a Christian family with a father, Bob Lind, who was a true newsman. As a child, they lived in an upstairs apartment of the "ancient, tottering building" where the Larimore Pioneer, a weekly newspaper, was produced. Laurie majored in journalism at the University of North Dakota and has worked in various forms of print and broadcast communications over the years. Today, we'll dive into how her father, a longtime columnist for The Forum, shaped both her soul and career, leading her to her heavenly Father.

SHOW NOTES:

• Article on the launch of Bob Lind's "Neighbors" book, produced by the Forum Communications Company, a compilation of Laurie's father's columns through the years, writing for The Forum newspaper: https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/new-book-of-bob-linds-best-stories-released

• To order a copy of "Neighbors": https://deals.wday.com/products/bob-linds-neighbors-your-stories-and-the-man-who-wrote-them

• Bob Lind's obituary: https://www.korsmofuneralservice.com/obituaries/Robert-Bob-Lind

• Laurie's current endeavor, One Challenge: https://onechallenge.org/

Our guest today, Samantha Stephenson, is a Catholic convert, bioethicist, and author of several books helping Christians grow in faith and navigate the spiritual and ethical questions shaping our rapidly changing world—whether in the hidden rhythms of home or at the frontiers of science. She hosts the podcast Brave New Us and writes the "Choosing Human Newsletter" on Substack. You can also find her at www.snstephenson.com.

SHOW NOTES:

• Samantha's forthcoming book: The Bellbind Letters: Inside the Devil's Plan for Your Motherhood: https://www.amazon.com/Bellbind-Letters-Inside-Devils-Motherhood/dp/1639663290? (Feb. 16, 2026)

• Samantha's second forthcoming book: Grow Where You're Planted: Reclaiming Eden in Your Own Backyard: https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Where-Youre-Planted-Reclaiming/dp/B0FWXYMXKH? (March 17, 2026)

• Samantha's website: https://www.snstephenson.com/

• Samantha's Substack: "Choosing Human" https://www.choosinghuman.org/

• Samantha's podcast, "Brave New Us": https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brave-new-us/id1522088100

Our guest today, Noelle Mering, is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and the author of "Awake, Not Woke," as well as co-author of the Theology of Home book series, and an upcoming book, "No Contact: How a Seductive Ideology Broke Families and Friendships and How We Can Repair Them." Noelle has been published in Newsweek, Daily Wire, National Review, The Federalist, and National Catholic Register, among others. She has been featured on Fox News, EWTN, Relevant Radio, and in the film "Jesus Thirsts." She is a wife and mother of six living in California.

SHOW NOTES:

• Noelle's book, "Awake Not Woke: A Christian Response to the Cult of Progressive ideology": https://www.amazon.com/Awake-Not-Woke-Christian-Progressive/dp/1505118425

• "The 'No Contact' Epidemic That is Tearing Families Apart" w/Noelle Mering (The Lila Rose Show podcast episode 228): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aUNY2Ej6hg

• Read more of Noelle's work on her Substack, "Family Revival," https://noellemering.substack.com/, or through The Ethics and Public Policy Center, https://eppc.org/