Talk about turning your mess into your message. Today's guest, Victoria Ray, is a speaker, a podcaster, a student, and a Certified Addiction Empowerment Specialist. She's also in recovery and a big ole fan of Jesus. Victoria is here on the show today to talk about whether she believes her addiction was part of God's "plan" for her life, how she found truth in her faith during the darkest days of her life, and why she decided to devote her life to serving others with addictions. She also offers helpful tips for people whose friends and family members are currently caught in the clutches of addiction and talks about what she wishes more Catholics understood about the nature of recovery. Victoria is young, well-spoken, and faithful: busting every single "addict" stereotype you may have been carrying around. She serves as an amazing example for just what our good, good God is capable of. I hope you find meaning in our chat today!

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible. To snag a free audio version of Boundaries by Henry Cloud (mentioned in this episode!), head to audibletrial.com/catholic.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. Get one of their stunning 2020 Mass journals at everysacredsunday.com.

OK, time to admit my stress + beef with the modern day education system.

I went to public school. Did not have a great experience. Krzys went to public school. Did have a great experience. I don't want to pay thousands for my kids to go to school in a community that looks exactly like them and be encased in a Catholic Bubble, nor do I want them to go to the school where I went, spending most of pre-calc hanging out in the parking lot and taking civics classes where there are actual test questions like "Why is there no right or wrong in today's society?" Y'feel me?

Sometimes I struggle with what I even believe education is for. That's why I was so excited to learn about Jeremy Tate and the Classical Learning Test, an alternative to the SAT and ACT. Jeremy is on the show today to talk about the purpose of education, the main problem with our modern day school systems, and why he believes a classical education is essential. The conversation blew my mind and got me thinking about school and education in an entirely different light—I hope it does the same for you!

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible. For a free audiobook, head to audibletrial.com/catholic.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. Snag one of their beautiful Mass journals at everysacredsunday.com.

We all know Mary gave the ultimate fiat. But what about ours?

Our "yes" to a new grad school degree. Our "yes" to donating an extra $10 instead of buying that second wine at girls night. Our "yes" to a radical mission across the globe. Our "yes" to the mind-numbingly difficult task of child rearing. Our "yes" to homeschool or private school or public school.

Every day, we are faced with an infinite amount of "yes" that we are called to say. In today's episode, speaker Karianna Frey walks us through her own experience with finding her fiat and what we can do to find ours. We also talk about the conference she's a part of, Karianna's conversion to the Catholic faith, and what's been bringing her closer to God lately. We also have an in-depth conversation on the importance of in-person events and why we miss them so much. Enjoy!

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible. Want to snag a free audio book and a free 30-day trial? Head to audibletrial.com/catholic.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. To grab one of their beautiful 2020 Mass journals before they're gone, get to everysacredsunday.com.

Anger. Shame. Boundaries. These are the parts of care taking we *don't* often talk about. But the truth is, these are all too common when imperfect people are trying to attempt perfect love. Today's guest, Katie Pyles, has experience as a caretaker for an adult with special needs, and I'm so grateful she came on the show to share her story. Katie talks about how it isn't our weaknesses that harm relationships, it's the way we deny to acknowledge them or get support for them--that really resonated with me. We discuss what it was like to be a caretaker immediately upon getting married, what Katie wishes she had known before embarking on the journey of care taking, and what's been bringing her closer to God lately. Enjoy!

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible. For a free audio book, head on over to audibletrial.com/catholic.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. Snag one of their beautiful Mass journals at everysacredsunday.com.

The death penalty is a topic I've been interested in for a long time, and I'm so pleased to be discussing it today with McKenna. McKenna is a grad student who comes to us with a passion for capital punishment and it's place in the pro-life discourse. As Sr. Helen Prejean says, "people are more than the worst thing they have ever done in their lives." McKenna and I discuss what inspired her to learn more about this area of criminal justice, what resources we should turn to if we're interested in getting involved, and what the church's official position on the death penalty is.

When Jesus shows mercy in the gospels, he instructs us to do the same. Not once, but over and over. Is this an easy task? No. But Catholics were not made for ease, for comfort, for popular opinion. We were made for mercy and justice, and in following Christ's lead, I believe we can be a truly pro-life people. Enjoy our conversation!

Today's episode is brought to you by Audible. For a free audiobook and a free 30-day-trial, head to audibletrial.com/catholic.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. For one of their beautiful 2020 Mass journals, go to everysacredsunday.com.

Hear from Sr. Thea Bowman's best friend about what she was like, what she was passionate about, and why she deserves to be a canonized saint!

When you have money to give, should you give it to your literal neighbors, or the neighbors on the other side of the world? Today we're chatting with Catholic Relief Services' Beth Knobbe to discuss economic justice and what it means to care for the people around us. I was excited to hear about CRS' transitions in their economic justice programs and why they're shifting to a focus on empowering local communities. We talk about staying in your own lane, if you should focus more on policy or charitable giving, properly researching mission trips, and so much more. Enjoy!

Today's episode is brought to you by Select International Tours. Learn more about the phenomenal trips they have planned for 2020 at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. This beautiful Mass journals make the perfect gift for the Catholic woman in your life. Head to everysacredsunday.com.

Learn all about St. Therese's mom, St. Zelie, and why Catholic feminists in particular should care about her!

When it's time to put together a Catholic event, are you putting diversity on your list of goals? In today's episode, speaker Marcia Lane-McGee and I are talking about how to embrace diversity in Catholic speaking circles without falling into the idea of a "diversity hire". We also talk about her experience as a birth mother of a teenager, her podcast for black Catholics, and how her work at a home for teenage boys in Chicago has helped her see Jesus in all people. Enjoy!

Today's episode is brought to you by Select International Tours. Learn more about the phenomenal trips they have planned for 2020 at selectinternationaltours.com/feminist.

Today's episode is also brought to you by Every Sacred Sunday. This beautiful Mass journals make the perfect gift for the Catholic woman in your life. Head to everysacredsunday.com.

Layna Maher from the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine is here to help us learn about the life and legacy of this inspiring indigenous saint!