EquipCast

Episode 209: OCIA - Rediscovering the Heart of Parish Life

Episode  |  March 10th, 2026  |  1 hr 3 mins

accompaniment, ancient catechumenate, archdiocese of omaha, catechumenate, catholic, catholic conversion, catholic discipleship, catholic formation, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, church revitalization, church revival, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, missionary discipleship, ocia, parish ministry, parish renewal, parish transformation, rcia, welcoming seekers

What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf. The early Church knew how to walk with people—slowly, personally, lovingly—and somewhere along the line, we traded that for efficiency. Dr. Burgwald shows why returning to this ancient, relational way of forming disciples isn’t nostalgia; it’s the key to helping people truly encounter Jesus and find a home in His Church again.

Coach's Corner 28: Why do we keep trying silver bullets?

Episode  |  March 3rd, 2026  |  13 mins 8 secs

archdiocese of omaha, authentic renewal, catholic, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, disciples, discipleship, evangelism, evangelization, faith journey, god’s mercy, letting go of quick fixes, making disciples, missionary conversion, no silver bullet, parish evangelization, parish renewal, silver bullet myth, spiritual conversion, spiritual dependence, trusting god, turning to god

What do you do when the strategy, the program, or the plan just isn’t enough? Because I’ve been there—and in this episode, I talk about why our “silver bullets” so often fail us. We love quick fixes, big programs, and shiny solutions, but real renewal—personal or parish-wide—only happens when we stop trying to use God and finally turn to Him with honest hearts. In this conversation, I walk through one of my favorite (and most surprising) stories in Scripture and share the uncomfortable but hopeful truth it reveals: God isn’t asking us for better strategies. He’s asking for conversion. If you’ve ever felt discouraged, overwhelmed, or tempted to chase one more magic solution, this episode will help you breathe, refocus, and remember that God has a plan—not a gimmick—waiting for you.

Episode 208: The Shift That Revives a Parish: A Great Catholic Parishes Webinar

Episode  |  February 24th, 2026  |  1 hr 15 secs

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What if everything changes when people finally feel seen, known, and accompanied? In this republished conversation from the Great Catholic Parishes podcast, I join host John Poitevent to unpack why this simple shift lies at the very heart of parish renewal. People don’t grow because we tell them to—they grow because someone offers friendship, listens without judgment, and walks with them patiently. I unpack how accompaniment transforms not just individuals but the entire culture of a parish, unlocking a sense of belonging that leads people to recognize that God sees them the same way. Together, John and I try to paint a hopeful picture of what becomes possible when a parish truly commits to walking with people in love…and how everything can change from there.

Episode 207: Holy Simplicity: When Clutter Competes With Your Calling

Episode  |  February 17th, 2026  |  1 hr

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Episode 206: Dying Well: A Catholic Neurosurgeon's Insights on Life and Death

Episode  |  February 10th, 2026  |  51 mins 19 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic bioethics, catholic end of life care, catholic ministry, christian suffering, death and dying, disciples, dr. stephen doran, dying with dignity, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, hope in death, how to die well, making disciples, spiritual accompaniment

What does it mean to face death well? In this conversation, Steve and I talk about the healing that comes when we confront our mortality and the immense dignity that every person deserves at the end of life. Steve shares the story of his father in law’s beautiful passing, the principles every Catholic should understand about end of life care, and the spiritual posture that transforms fear into hope.

Coach’s Corner 27: What Parents Really Want

Episode  |  February 3rd, 2026  |  13 mins 57 secs

archdiocese of omaha, belonging in the church, catholic, catholic family ministry, catholic ministry, catholic school families, disciples, engaging millennial parents, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation at home, helping parents pass on the faith, making disciples, overcoming parish barriers, parent discipleship, parents and parish engagement, parish listening sessions

What if the biggest thing parents want from us is to know they belong? When I listen to parents—really listen—I hear something deeper than frustration about busy schedules or kids who can’t sit still at Mass. I hear an ache. Parents want to engage. They want their kids to love the faith. They want to grow spiritually themselves. But so many of them carry this quiet fear that they or their kids don’t quite fit in. And honestly? I’ve felt that myself. In sports leagues and school activities, parents often feel more welcomed, more supported, more seen than they do at church. That should get our attention.

Episode 205: Witness before Wisdom: What Couples Need When Preparing for Marriage

Episode  |  January 27th, 2026  |  56 mins 22 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic marriage, catholic ministry, church community, disciples, discipleship, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, marriage preparation, mentor couples, parish renewal, sacramental marriage, trust and relationships, witness to love

Episode 204: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 2)

Episode  |  January 20th, 2026  |  44 mins 11 secs

accompaniment, archdiocese of omaha, building disciples, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic parish culture, church ministry strategy, clear path to discipleship, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish leadership, parish renewal

What happens when we start trusting programs more than we trust people? Discipleship slows down—because programs don’t accompany anyone. People do. Programs support the mission, but people are the mission. In part two of this conversation on what really breaks a clear path to discipleship, we talk honestly about why great programming isn’t enough, how over commitment burns out your best leaders, and why accompaniment and simplicity matter more than adding one more initiative.

Episode 203: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 1)

Episode  |  January 13th, 2026  |  39 mins 5 secs

alpha evangelization, archdiocese of omaha, building disciples, catholic, catholic discipleship, catholic ministry, clear path to discipleship, conversion first leadership, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategy, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish discipleship, parish leadership, parish renewal

Why do discipleship efforts that start with so much hope sometimes stall—or fall apart? In this episode, I sit down with coaches from our Parish Support Team to talk honestly about how Clear Paths to discipleship can break down—often before we even realize it’s happening. We walk through five common ways parishes unintentionally derail discipleship—and what faithful leaders can do differently. We talk about slowing down to listen to the Holy Spirit, why conversion has to come before strategy, and how real fruit grows through relationships, not just programs.

Coach's Corner 26: Rediscover the Heart of Evangelization

Episode  |  January 6th, 2026  |  13 mins 16 secs

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How do you keep the Gospel alive and at the center of your work? Start with the quiet, world-changing truth that Jesus loves you. He gave His life to save you. And He is with you today—right now—to enlighten, strengthen, and free you. When we put that message at the heart of everything—our conversations, our ministries, our families—it changes everything. In this episode, I’ll share why this matters and how you can make it part of your everyday life.

Episode 202: Confronting the Ghost of St. John Vianney: A Vision for Modern Parish Life

Episode  |  December 16th, 2025  |  1 hr 3 mins

apostolic age, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, disciples, equipcast podcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategies, fr. scott traynor, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, parish transformation, priesthood today, st. john vianney

I love the saints—especially guys like St. John Vianney—but trying to imitate their circumstances can leave today’s priests feeling defeated before they even begin. In this episode, Fr. Scott Traynor and I get honest about how different our world is now, and why that’s not a problem to mourn but a mission to embrace. We talk about the heart of priesthood today: prayer, the sacraments, and investing deeply in a few people who can carry the Gospel into a culture that’s drifting away from Christ. And here’s the hope: renewal isn’t about going backward. It’s about priests doing what only they can do—celebrate, preach, shepherd—and unleashing the laity to live their mission with confidence. If you’ve ever felt the weight of expectations you can’t live up to or wondered whether your parish can actually flourish in a secular age, this conversation will help you imagine a future filled with purpose and hope.

Episode 201: Where is God Leading You? An Ignatian Approach to Setting Goals

Episode  |  December 9th, 2025  |  1 hr 20 secs

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Feeling stuck and longing for clarity? I invite you to take a moment to pause, pray, and discern where God is calling you. Today’s guest, Lisa Kelly, leadership coach, author of The Spiritual Path, and expert in Ignatian spirituality, shares an Ignatian-inspired process that helps you slow down, notice what’s stirring in your heart, and make choices with clarity and peace. If you’ve ever wondered, “Where is God leading me?” this conversation will give you hope and courage for the road ahead.