After returning from a transformational retreat in Assisi—and an unexpected adventure in Florence—Carrie shares the beauty, healing, and spiritual expansion God worked in her heart. From sacred encounters with St. Francis, St. Clare, and St. Carlo Acutis, to private masses, holy hours, and breathtaking basilicas, this episode is a heartfelt reflection on God’s goodness and the power of retreat, silence, and taking time to reflect with God.

She also explores a core theme that emerged both during and after the retreat:
discomfort as a necessary and sacred part of spiritual growth. How God stretches us, strengthens us, and prepares us for our callings through the very moments that feel the most challenging. Carrie explores why discomfort is not something to avoid, but something holy, sacred, and often essential when God is stretching us into the people He created us to be. It is a choice, and an invitation to allow it and welcome it as a normal and expected part of the process of spiritual growth and expansion.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, afraid, unmotivated, or overwhelmed while following God’s lead, this episode will speak right into your soul and encourage you to step forward in faith!

This Week's Invitation:
Spend time journaling or sitting before the Blessed Sacrament and ask:
“Lord, what are You calling me to do that doesn’t feel comfortable?”

Resources Mentioned:

Karla Fitz, The Catholic Life Coach:

Karla's website

Karla's Instagram @thecatholiclifecoach

Gwen Wiseman, Assisi Pilgrimage and Retreat Leader & Author:

Gwen's website

Gwen's books: Living Advent with St. Carlo, Living Lent with St. Carlo, Praying the Rosary with St. Carlo

Gwen's Instagram @gwenofassisi

Heather Martin, Organizer of English mass in Assisi

English Mass resources in Assisi

Heather's Instagram @englishmassinassisi

In this inspiring shorter episode,  Carrie shares an update before heading to Assisi, Italy for a retreat. She shares God’s invitation to rest and reflect — not just during her trip, but as a holy rhythm we’re all called to cultivate.

As the year winds down, Carrie guides listeners through why reflection is a holy habit that builds awareness, deepens our relationship with God, and helps us live more intentionally. She introduces ten powerful questions for an End-of-Year Examination of Conscience, helping you slow down, check in with your heart, and prepare spiritually for 2026 — not with resolutions, but with holy, sustainable habits that draw you closer to God’s dreams for your life.

🕊️ In This Episode, the following is covered:

• Why reflection is a holy habit that leads to peace, clarity, and virtue
• How to slow down to a heavenly pace — the pace of Jesus
• Questions to help you examine your year with God’s perspective
• How to discern what to leave behind and what to carry forward
• The difference between secular goal-setting and setting holy goals
• Why dreaming with God leads to more joy and purpose in 2026

The 10 End-of-Year Reflection Questions Carrie invites you to consider and pray with:

1. What have been my greatest challenges this year?
2. What are three things I can celebrate with God?
3. What has surprised me — for better or worse — this year?
4. How well have I prioritized God in my schedule?
5. Which virtues have I cultivated?
6. Which vices have crept in, and how can I release them with God’s help?
7. Are my relationships leading me and others closer to heaven?
8. Am I dreaming with God at the center?
9. What words describe how I feel as 2025 ends — and how I want to feel in 2026?
10. What negative beliefs no longer serve me as I step into the new year?

🕯️ Key Quote:

🌸 Takeaway:

Reflection isn’t just about looking back — it’s about making room for renewal. As we approach the close of 2025, God invites you to pause, pray, and prepare your heart for what He’s about to do next.

📖 Scripture Inspiration:

• “Be still and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10
• “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.” — 2 Corinthians 13:5

🙏 Connect:

Follow Carrie on Instagram @livingwholeandholy
to journey along in Assisi. 

Stay tuned for new episodes in December and to hear about how Carrie can support you with Catholic coaching in 2026!

If this episode blessed you, please share it with a friend who might need inspiration and encouragement to rest and reflect before the new year.

Father Mike Schmitz book Unshakeable

Father Mike Schmitz homily 11/9/2025-Meant To Be

In this inspiring conversation Carrie sits down with watercolor artist, mother, and Catholic Life Coach, Talina Padilla, to explore what it truly means to find God in the everyday — through art, beauty, and ordinary life.

Born and raised a cradle Catholic in Monterrey, Mexico, Talina shares how her faith has been shaped by her parents, her experiences with Opus Dei, and the powerful influence of St. Josemaría Escrivá. She opens up about her journey of questioning, rediscovering, and deepening her relationship with God — and how painting became an intimate act of co-creation with the God.

Carrie and Talina also discuss:
 ✨ How Catholic coaching transformed their understanding of God’s love and how nothing is too big or too small for God; he loves to over-deliver and show up for us personally to shower us with His love
 🌸 The role of beauty in healing and prayer
 🙏 The story of St. Joseph’s surprising presence in Talina’s life
 💫 Why holiness and wholeness always go hand-in-hand

This conversation is a gentle reminder that God’s love is both infinite and intimate — often revealed in small, beautiful moments. Whether you’re an artist, a parent, or simply someone seeking to grow closer to God, this episode will inspire you to see His hand in everything you create and experience.

 Connect with Talina:

Follow Talina on instagram @tucoachcatolica

Follow Talina's water color offerings on instagram @doodlesbytalina

Connect with Carrie:

Follow Carrie on Intragram @livingwholeandholy

If you'd like to share your conversion or reversion story and be a guest on the podcast, please email Carrie @ [email protected]

In this inspiring and heartfelt conversation,  Karla Fitz and I discuss the transformative power of Catholic life coaching in both of our lives. We discuss God's plan of how we met and how he called us to work together in wonderful and unexpected ways!  We explore the importance of aligning with God, the journey of dreaming again, and the role of on purpose thoughts and beliefs in co-creating with God the holy desires He puts in our hearts. Karla shares her personal journey with weight loss and how it ultimately led her to embracing her calling as a Catholic coach. The discussion highlights the differences between life coaching, therapy, and spiritual direction, and how Catholic coaching aims to put God at the center of everything. 

Topics covered:

-How Catholic coaching helps individuals align with their true calling and future possibilities.

-How to dream again with God.

-How on purpose thoughts and beliefs significantly influence emotions,  actions, and results, and how that differs from victim-based thinking, which keeps you stuck and in pain and fear.

-The differences between coaching, therapy, and spiritual direction.

-Living in God's holy alignment requires embracing discomfort, change, and  updated beliefs.

-Holy desires from God are often aligned with our gifts and charisms, persistent, and how following them can bring others to Christ.

-The journey of coaching creates space for more freedom in relationships, greater joy, and simplicity, and ultimately greater intimacy with God.

 Connect with Karla:

Follow Karla on Instagram @thecatholiclifecoach

Karla's website and offerings

Connect with Carrie:

Follow Carrie on Intragram @livingwholeandholy

If you'd like to share your conversion or reversion story and be a guest on the podcast, please email Carrie @ [email protected]

In this conversation, Carrie explores the significance of saints and their relics within the Catholic faith. She discusses the different classes of relics, the importance of veneration, and shares personal experiences with saints, particularly recently venerating the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux. The conversation emphasizes the role of saints as intercessors and models of holiness, encouraging listeners to connect with them to deepen their connection to God and enrich their spiritual journey.

St Therese Relics Tour

St Jude Novena

Connect with me:

Follow me on instagram @livingwholeandholy

If you'd like to share your conversion or reversion story and be a guest on the podcast, please email me @ [email protected]

In this episode, Carrie discusses the two foundational pillars of living a whole and whole life: Rooting your identity in Christ first, and learning to adopt a kindgom-based minsdet in order to think like Jesus thinks. She discusses the differences between forming your identity in the world vs. forming your identity in Christ, and why choosing a faith-based mindset instead of a fear-based one significantly impacts the fruit of your ministry, how you show up for yourself and others in any circumstance, and how this impacts the mission and purpose God has for your life.

Radiating Christ Prayer

Encounter School of Ministry

Connect with me:

Follow me on instagram @livingwholeandholy

If you'd like to share your conversion or reversion story and be a guest on the podcast, please email me @ [email protected]

From growing up Lutheran to exploring New Age spirituality, Carrie spent years searching for truth in many places. After a powerful vision of Jesus, she found new life in protestant Christianity — but the journey didn’t stop there. In this heartfelt conversation, Carrie shares how that same pursuit of truth ultimately led her home to the Catholic Church. This is a story of the supernatural peace of Christ, grace, longing, and the surprising ways God draws us closer to Himself.

Carrieand Sheikh's Conversion Story on Catholic Recon Podcast

Pints with Aquinas 

Connect with me:

Follow me on instagram @livingwholeandholy

If you'd like to share your conversion or reversion story and be a guest on the podcast, please email me @ [email protected]

Welcome to The Living Whole and Holy Podcast! In this trailer, I’ll share what this podcast is all about and what you can expect each week: inspiring conversion stories, practical faith-based coaching tools, and timeless wisdom from the Church to help you grow in intimacy with God. 

New episodes will air every Wednesday, with the first episode airing on 10/8.

Follow me on instagram @livingwholeandholy

To inquire about being a guest on the podcast, email me at [email protected]