This Whole Life

"If in spite of everything God does not give them children, they should not regard themselves as being thwarted. They should be happy, discovering in this very fact God's will for them. ... There is, then, no reason for feeling they are failures or for giving way to sadness."
~ St. Josemaría Escrivá

Is God present in infertility?
How do I deal with the sadness & anger of losing a dream?
When I feel like I don't fit in, what do I do?

In this profoundly moving episode of This Whole Life, Kenna and Pat delve into the delicate and deep topic of infertility. They engage in heartfelt conversations with three couples who each share their unique and intimate journeys through infertility. Through candid stories of struggle, hope, and healing, the couples reveal how their experiences have shaped their relationships with one another and with God, how they navigate cultural expectations, and how they have developed emotional and mental resilience. This compelling episode sheds light on the realities of infertility, offering insights into how these couples have found support and love amidst their trials. Whether journeying through infertility or seeking to support those who are, you will discover profound lessons about life, love, and the reality of redemption in the midst of suffering.

Episode 65 Show Notes

Chapters:
0:00: Three couples' journey of infertility
13:50: How has infertility impacted your marriage?
18:13: How has infertility impacted your relationship with God?
23:28: How has this journey affected your emotions & mental health along the way?
36:17: Where have you found the most support & care?
43:28: What have you learned about life and love?
48:08: Witnessing generosity & openness up close

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. What is your experience with infertility, in your own life or in a loved one?
3. What is one time that a dream was lost? What did you feel, and how did you respond?
4. What are some of the expectations put upon you by the culture or those in the Church? What do you do when you don't fit those expectations?
5. How can you love & support those living with infertility? If you experience infertility, what do you need from others?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

“It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start.”
~ St. Teresa of Calcutta

Why am I so emotionally tied up in my kids' accomplishments?
Is my child's behavior a verdict on my parenting?
How can I be invested in my child without trying to control them?

In Episode 64 of This Whole Life, Kenna welcomes guest Rachel Balducci for an insightful discussion on parenting, identity, and faith. They delve into the emotional journey parents undergo as they detach from their children's achievements and embrace their true identity and worth. Rachel shares personal stories, emphasizing the importance of humor and grace in parenting. The conversation highlights the need to maintain healthy boundaries, allowing children to forge their own paths while anchoring self-worth in the Lord, not external validation. Rachel also reflects on fostering authentic community and the transformative power of prayer, offering listeners encouragement in building genuine relationships and seeking holiness in everyday life. The episode is a thought-provoking exploration of how faith and mental health intertwine in parenting, with Kenna and Rachel offering wisdom and guidance for navigating challenges with love and understanding.

Rachel Balducci is a cohost of The Gist, a talk show for women on CatholicTV, and teaches journalism at Augusta University. She is the author of No Such Thing As Ordinary, Overcommitted: Cut Chaos and Find Balance, Make My Life Simple: Bringing Peace to Heart and Home and How Do You Tuck in a Superhero and Other Delightful Mysteries of Raising Boys. Rachel and her husband, Paul, live in Georgia and have five sons and one daughter.

Episode 64 Show Notes

Rachel Balducci's books

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
10:32: Humility & candor in parenting
17:24: Finding community & letting go of control
33:42: Freedom from others' opinions of my children as extensions of me
46:30: Receiving our value from the Lord, not from our children
54:55: Challenge By Choice

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. What are the most wonderful things about marriage & parenting? What are the most challenging things about parenting?
3. In what ways can parents balance the tension between helping their children pursue excellence and reminding them of their worth regardless of their accomplishments?
4. What kinds of community and friendship have you sought out in your journey? Where are you most in need of support right now?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
~ Blaise Pascal

Do the big, existential questions of life really matter?
Why is it so tempting to avoid the big questions?
How can I deal with the big questions in ways that I can process?

In Episode 63 of This Whole Life, Pat and Kenna engage with clinical counselor Alex Wallace to explore the big questions: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Should I be vulnerable with others? Alex emphasizes the necessity of vulnerability and community in addressing existential questions and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Drawing from personal experiences and Catholic teachings, he integrates faith with therapy, highlighting the crucial support therapists can provide in addressing deeper issues. The episode weaves humor with wisdom, referencing St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and the Lion King. Join the conversation to face the things that really matter.

Alex is Catholic, a husband and a father of four. He is also a Counselor with the Ruah Woods Institute and has twelve years of clinical experience, working to serve the needs of individuals in various settings, including private practice, community outpatient services, intensive youth rehabilitation, hospital chaplaincy, and collegiate sport performance. Alex holds credentials as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with training supervision designation (LPCC-S) in Ohio and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Indiana.

Episode 63 Show Notes

The Ruah Woods Institute

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
14:02: The journey to becoming a Catholic therapist
23:32: Existential questions & mental health
29:27: Vulnerability & the Lion King
42:37: Practicing as an authentically Catholic therapist
51:05: Challenge By Choice

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. In what ways does embracing vulnerability contribute to healing of mind & soul?
3. Why is community essential in the process of wholeness according to the discussion?
4. What big questions do you reflect on often? What big questions do you tend to avoid?
5. In what ways does the world push us away from the big questions of life? What impact does that have on us, psychologically & spiritually?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

"The Christian community is called to help them [parents] in teaching children how to live in a media environment in way consonant with the dignity of the human person and service of the common good.”
~ Pope Francis

Does technology really harm children & teens?
How do I raise my children in a world steeped in tech & social media?
Is it even worth the fight to resist the culture when it comes to technology?

This is an important one, friends! In Episode 62, Pat and Kenna delve into the complexities of technology's impact on children, families, and parents. They discuss the critical role of guiding children towards responsible tech use, while resisting the cultural push for children using devices & social media at a young age. Exploring the emotional strain parents face when limiting tech access, they emphasize the empowerment found in community support. The episode also highlights the importance of fostering real-world engagement & joy. The couple shares personal insights on managing children's screen time, advocating for setting boundaries to promote healthier interactions.

If you've ever faced difficult conversations or decisions about technology with your children, this episode is for you!

Episode 62 Show Notes

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
17:50: Approach to technology & some statistics
27:37: Feeling a lack of agency
33:59: Proposing a vision for kids' tech use
40:52: Concrete actions & conversations around technology
50:17: The need for community among parents
58:09: Challenge By Choice

Reflection Questions: 

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. What difficulties have you faced around technology & social media in your own life? In your children's lives?
3. What does healthy tech use look like to you? What are your values around technology?
4. What are technology & social media good for? What are the dangers of technology? How can you help your children enjoy the good and avoid the dangers?
5. When you listen to the Holy Spirit, how are you being called to lead your family with regards to technology?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

"As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.”
~ John 17:18

How do I share the gospel when others aren't open to it?
Can I be an authentic Christian if my job doesn't allow me to express it openly?
How do I love people who are hostile toward my faith?

Our world is fallen and broken, and in many ways it seems to be growing more opposed to the Christian life. Pat is joined by licensed therapist Isaac Wicker for a profound conversation about this struggle. Whether you're in school, at work, or with friends & family, we all find ourselves in a position of witnessing our faith to those who don't seem to be open to it. They might even be openly hostile toward the faith. But the call of Jesus is not to return vitriol with vitriol or to run away from the world, but rather to engage others with love and a willingness to preach the gospel at all times, with words and actions.

Isaac Wicker is a Catholic therapist, speaker, and content creator with a decade of mental health experience. Outside of his therapy work, he founded and runs two online Catholic programs for integrating faith and mental health: Whole Human Challenge, a 7-week Catholic challenge to uproot anxiety and enliven faith; and KNOWN: Embraced by the Heart of the Father, a 12-week online Catholic journey to heal wounded relationships with God the Father. You can follow his instagram @knownbythefather and find him on YouTube @wholehumanpsychology. Isaac lives in Minnesota with his wife and three children.

Episode 61 Show Notes

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
9:40: Living faith in a fallen world
20:29: Being a living instance of a loving God
28:10: A Catholic therapist in a secular mental health field
37:30: The courage to go into the world
47:11: Challenge By Choice

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. What secular environments do you live or work in? What challenges and opportunities do you find there?
3. When has someone helped you know God's love when you felt unlovable? When have you shown God's love to another?
4. What is the value of acknowledging someone's good desires, even if they're being lived out in unhealthy or sinful ways?
5. Who is one person who you have a hard time loving, but needs the love of God through your witness?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.”
~ St. Francis de Sales

Why are my habits so hard to change?
Why do I keep doing the things I don't want to do?
How do I build a new habit and get rid of others?

In Episode 60, Kenna and Pat Millea take a deep dive into the psychology and spirituality of habit formation. They unpack the common struggles that we face when trying to build or break habits and encourage a self-compassionate approach that motivates us toward real change. Drawing insights from sources like Thomas Aquinas and James Clear's Atomic Habits, they explore how habits can align with spiritual goals and lead to a Christ-centered life. Whether you're hoping to be free from habitual sin or to create a workout routine, this episode offers practical tips for habit formation, paying attention to cues, cravings, responses, and rewards. Join us for a clearer way toward self-discipline and holiness!

We're happy to share this episode of This Whole Life with the SEEK Podcast Network.

Episode 60 Show Notes

Learn more about SEEK 2025: Follow Me

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
9:21: Why habits matter
18:33: The four stages of a habit
29:05: Analyzing my cues & the way habits compound
41:21: Challenge By Choice

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. How can habit formation be a tool to enrich your spiritual life, and not just as an exercise in self-improvement? 
3. What are one or two bad habits that you want to break?
4. What are one or two good habits that you want to create? 
5. How might you invite the Lord into the work of building good habits? What natural steps can you take through your own will & efforts?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain."
~ 1 Corinthians 15:10

Why do I react the way that I do?
How much of my personality can I change?
How does my temperament impact my relationships, my work, and my faith?

Join Kenna and Pat as they dive into the fascinating world of temperaments with Art and Laraine Bennett, renowned authors of "The Temperament God Gave You." In this enriching episode, discover how understanding temperaments can lead to personal and spiritual growth, enhancing relationships and helping us to be more like Christ. The Bennetts explore the strengths and challenges of each temperament — choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic — and offer practical tools for navigating personal and interpersonal dynamics. Listen in as they discuss the importance of self-awareness, the power of community, and how temperaments can promote freedom and growth in holiness and virtue. This is a fantastic conversation that you don't want to miss.

Art Bennett has a B.A. in philosophy and an M.A. in counseling psychology from Santa Clara University. He has co-authored three books on temperament and 6 books with Laraine and is a licensed (California and Virginia) Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 35 years of clinical experience. Laraine Bennett has a B.A. in philosophy from Santa Clara University and an M.A. in philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She created the game, Know Thyself! The Game of Temperaments (Sophia Institute Press, 2022) and has written two solo books. Art and Laraine are frequent speakers on marriage and family issues, both nationally and internationally. They have four adult children and eleven grandchildren.

Episode 59 Show Notes

Discover your temperament!

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
12:41: Uncovering & sharing the temperaments
18:25: Temperaments: the science of reactions
28:42: What are the four temperaments?
41:17: What's the point of understanding the temperaments?
51:17: Can my temperament change over time?
1:03:36: Challenge By Choice

Reflection Questions:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. What is your temperament? How does your temperament affect your reactions?
3. How might knowing your temperament help you grow in holiness & virtue?
4. What do you understand about the temperaments of your spouse, children, and loved ones? How does that help your relationships?
5. What is one weakness of your temperament that you feel compelled to address?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

“Return home and recount what God has done for you.”
~ Luke 8:39

Where has the Lord been most clearly present in the story of your life?
Is my story really worth telling?
What good would it do to share my story with someone else?
 
In this heartfelt and enriching episode of "This Whole Life," hosts Kenna and Pat Millea engage in a profound conversation with Fr. Angelus Montgomery, the vocations director for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. In the framework of "telling your story," they delve into themes of personal brokenness, healing, and the unique callings that reveal aspects of Jesus. Fr. Angelus shares his "second conversion" and the transformation it sparked, and he highlights the role of vulnerability, storytelling, and the Christian call to love others as Jesus did. Together, they explore how great storytelling in literature mirrors The Story, the beauty of being chosen by God, and the significance of stepping back to see life's bigger picture. Join them for a heartening dialogue - your story is worth it.

Fr. Angelus Montgomery, CFR, a Nebraska native, is a priest with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, currently serving as the community’s Vocation Director at Joseph Friary in Harlem, New York. Along with his duties in helping young men in their discernment, he is involved with the Community’s outreach to the poor and vulnerable, and also is co-host of the Poco a Poco Podcast, produced by the CFR’s. Fr. Angelus’s heart is filled with gratitude to God for the gift of being a Franciscan priest and spiritual Father.

Episode 58 Show Notes

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
11:33: Getting into story telling & story work
22:11: Walking with others & Father's second conversion
34:51: Finding healing through telling my story
41:46: The power of saying it out loud
57:19: Challenge By Choice

Questions for Reflection & Discussion:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. When have you shared your story with someone else? How did they receive it?
3. How has telling your story helped you receive healing and the love of God?
4. What is difficult about telling your story? What is difficult about receiving the story of someone else?
5. What is your reaction to the statement that we don't have to "fix" poverty, homelessness, etc.; we just have the love the person in front of us?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Join our email list and never miss an episode or an event

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

“Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Messiah?”
~ John 4:29

Is there a place in the Church for people with an LGBT+ experience?
Does God have a joyful plan for people living with same-sex attraction?
How can Christians love all people and uphold the teachings of the Church? 

Pat Millea engages in a profound conversation with Shannon Ochoa, co-founder of Eden Invitation, and recurring guest Fr. Nathan LaLiberte. The episode explores the intricate intersection of faith, sexuality, and mental health, focusing on how to nurture whole-person formation for LGBT+ individuals within the Catholic Church. Shannon shares her personal journey of reconciling her faith with her attractions and the challenges faced along the way, highlighting the importance of God's grace, community, and unconditional love. Join us for insightful reflections on Jesus' mercy, the heart of true discipleship, and practical ways to support celibate individuals and foster a sense of belonging and dignity for all. We invite you into this deeply relevant and heartfelt conversation.

Shannon Ochoa is the co-founder & vice president of Eden Invitation, where she directs programs, nurtures relationships, and develops community. Shannon graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Social Welfare and Gender & Women's Studies.  She has fallen for men and for women, but ultimately she fell for the beauty of Christ and His Church. Prior to founding Eden Invitation, Shannon worked in college campus ministry with The Evangelical Catholic and Brew City Catholic. If you're looking for her, try the shore of the nearest body of water. She’ll be in a hammock.

Episode 57 Show Notes

Learn more about Eden Invitation

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
10:54: Shannon Ochoa's journey of faith & self-knowledge
18:05: Bringing together faith & the LGBT+ experience
31:33: Tying up heavy burdens & the woman at the well
40:22: The work of Eden Invitation
48:02: Practical wisdom for a LGBT+ person or a loved one
57:58: Challenge By Choice

Questions for Reflection & Discussion:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. What experiences do you have with an LGBT+ experience or persons?
3. What feelings surfaced in you during this conversation? What are those feelings telling you?
4. How have you seen the Church and Christians respond well to LGBT+ persons? How have you feel Christians fail in their response?
5. How can you better carry the burdens of others? How can you invite others to help carry your burdens?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.

"But woe to the solitary person! If that one should fall, there is no other to help."
~ Ecclesiastes 4:10

How do I know if I need therapy or spiritual direction?
Why doesn't my pastor offer more counsel in confession?
Do I need to talk to a priest or a therapist - or both?

In episode 56, Kenna welcomes Fr. Nathan LaLiberte to delve into the nuanced interplay between confession, therapy, and spiritual direction. Together, they distinguish between these different, but sometimes overlapping, practices of spiritual & mental healing. Fr. Nathan shares his experience as a confessor and spiritual director, and now in school for counseling as well. Listeners are invited to evaluate how they seek spiritual and emotional guidance for the sake of their wholeness. Join us for an honest and clarifying conversation that's sure to help you know where to turn for support!

Episode 56 Show Notes

Chapters:
0:00: Introduction and Highs & Hards
21:54: Defining Therapy, Confession, & Spiritual Direction
28:48: From confession to spiritual direction
37:17: Parish life as primary spiritual direction
44:41: Directing change & the various styles of spiritual direction
53:25: Challenge By Choice

Questions for Reflection & Discussion:

1. What is one specific thing that stuck with you from this conversation?
2. What experiences have you had with confession, spiritual direction, and/or therapy?
3. How do you understand the differences between therapy and spiritual direction?
4. When have you had a powerful experience of healing? Was it in confession, therapy, spiritual direction, or somewhere else?
5. Which of these types of healing would you benefit most from right now?

Support the show

Thank you for listening, and a very special thank you to our community of supporters!

Visit us online at thiswholelifepodcast.com, and send us an email with your thoughts, questions, or ideas.

Follow us on Instagram & Facebook

Interested in more faith-filled mental health resources? Check out the Martin Center for Integration

Music: "You're Not Alone" by Marie Miller. Used with permission.