EquipCast

Coach's Corner 24: When You’re Stuck at Step One

Episode  |  October 28th, 2025  |  11 mins 9 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, disciples, discipleship tools, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith in action, leadership development, making disciples, ministry growth, mission strategy, overcoming perfectionism, small beginnings, starting small

BONUS: 3 Reasons You Should Join us at SEEK!

Episode  |  October 28th, 2025  |  8 mins 17 secs

adult faith formation, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic conference, catholic evangelization, catholic events, catholic inspiration, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, church alive, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and family, focus seek, jim jansen podcast, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, seek 2026, spiritual renewal

Imagine standing among thousands of faithful Catholics, voices lifted in prayer and praise. In that moment, you can feel the Church fully alive—young, reverent, and on fire for mission. In this short bonus episode, I share a personal story from my family and three compelling reasons why SEEK might be exactly what your heart’s been longing for. Whether you’re craving hope, community, or a deeper sense of purpose, this isn’t just a conference—it’s a chance to be renewed. Give it a listen, and let the Spirit stir something new in you.

Episode 197: Meet Your Neighbor in Their Mess: The Call to Parish Outreach

Episode  |  October 21st, 2025  |  58 mins 59 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, corporal and spiritual works of mercy, disciples, door-to-door evangelization, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization stories, loving your neighbor, making disciples, neighborhood ministry, parish mission field, parish outreach, scent evangelization

What does it really mean to love your neighbor—not just in theory, but in their mess? In this episode, I sit down with Austin Habash from Sent Evangelization, and we talk about what happens when we actually step out and meet people where they are. How knocking on doors leads to praying with strangers, and how helping with small needs opens the way for grace. Austin shares stories that are raw, beautiful, and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt the tug to do something more, to bring Jesus to your neighborhood in a real and personal way, this conversation will inspire you and give you a path forward. You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to show up.

Episode 196: The Quiet Crisis in Our Pews: Why Saving Marriages will Save the Faith

Episode  |  October 14th, 2025  |  1 hr 2 mins

catholic family life, catholic marriage support, catholic podcast, clear path to discipleship, communio, divorce prevention, equipcast, evangelization through relationships, marriage ministry, parish growth strategies, parish outreach, parish renewal, quiet crisis in parishes, relationship enrichment, skills-based relationship ministry

What if saving a marriage could save a soul? In this episode, I sit down with Jared Smyth from Communio a consultancy helping parishes build thriving marriage ministries. We talk about the quiet crisis unfolding in our parishes—and the incredible hope breaking through. Parishes that invest just a few hours into helping couples build stronger relationships are seeing renewal from the inside out: healed marriages, thriving families, and faith coming alive again.

Episode 195: Evangelizing the Forgotten: Dcn. Al’s Story of Visiting the Imprisoned

Episode  |  October 7th, 2025  |  1 hr 2 mins

archdiocese of omaha, catholic podcast, corporal works of mercy, deacon al ulner, evangelization, faith behind bars, jail ministry, liberty to captives, prison ministry, spiritual transformation

How do you bring hope to someone who feels completely forgotten? In this powerful episode of EquipCast, Deacon Al Aulner opens a window into the emotional and spiritual struggles of incarcerated men—many of whom have never known love, stability, or the truth of the Gospel. Through stories of heartbreak, transformation, and hope, Deacon Al reveals how meeting people in their brokenness—whether behind bars or in everyday life—is the heart of evangelization. His insights challenge us to listen first, love deeply, and trust that God is already at work in every soul we encounter.

Coach's Corner 23: Why Your Parish's Small Groups Don't Last

Episode  |  September 30th, 2025  |  12 mins 13 secs

archdiocese of omaha, build parish community, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic small groups, culture of accompaniment, disciples, equipcast podcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith that multiplies, grow your faith, lead with purpose, making disciples, mission-driven ministry, spiritual leadership, transformative discipleship

Small groups are both easier—and more challenging—than we think. They’re not sustained by participants or materials alone, but by vision, culture, and structure. In this episode, I share why small groups can be pandemic-proof, recession-proof, even persecution-proof—if they’re rooted in mission, shaped by a culture of accompaniment, and supported by strong leadership structures. Discover how to build small groups that don’t just care for those inside the room, but expand outward to transform your parish and beyond.

Episode 194: When Missionaries Stall-out: My Clear Path Talk at SEEK 2025

Episode  |  September 23rd, 2025  |  28 mins 37 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic community, catholic evangelization strategy, catholic podcast, church culture change, church leadership, clear path to discipleship, equipcast, evangelization, faith formation, focus missionaries, jim jansen, making disciples, missionary discipleship, parish renewal, parish transformation, personal apostolate, seek conference, small group ministry, spiritual growth

What happens when a parish full of on-fire missionaries still stalls out? I saw it happen—and it taught me something big: even the most passionate disciples need a clear path and a culture that supports mission. In this episode, I share why real change is worth the discomfort, and how parishes can shift from “cruise ship mode” to “fire station mode”—where mission is normal and conversion is celebrated.

Episode 193: When Ordinary People Say Yes: The story of Seeking Truth Bible Study

Episode  |  September 16th, 2025  |  56 mins 31 secs

archdiocese of omaha, bible study, biblical literacy, canonical approach, catholic bible study, catholic community, catholic education, catholic evangelization, catholic family life, catholic marriage, catholic podcast, catholic resources, equipcast, faith formation, family transformation, feminine genius, holy spirit, jim jansen, marriage healing, omaha catholics, prayer life, scripture study tools, scripture teaching, seeking truth, sharon doran, spiritual direction, spiritual renewal, typology in scripture, women in ministry, word of god

What happens when ordinary people open the Bible and say “yes” to God? Sharon Doran shares her journey from unequipped teacher to leading hundreds—proof that Scripture isn’t just ink on a page—it’s alive. Tune in to hear how Scripture heals, unites, and brings unexpected fruit to ordinary people.

Episode 192: How to Lead Change Without Losing Your People

Episode  |  September 9th, 2025  |  48 mins 48 secs

adaptive change, archdiocese of omaha, brian miller, catholic, catholic ministry, change management, christian podcast, church innovation, church leadership, coach approach ministries, coaching ministry, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and change, jim jansen, leadership development, leading through uncertainty, making disciples, managing change, organizational change, pastoral leadership, religious leadership, spiritual growth, temptation bundling, vision casting

How do you lead change when you don’t know where you are going (yet)? Today I sit down with Brian Miller, a change management expert from Coach Approach Ministries, to talk about adaptive change. Adaptive change is when you know something needs to change, but you don’t yet know what the solution is. It’s not just fixing a broken pipe—it’s realizing the whole plumbing system might need to be rethought. It’s the kind of change that requires people to shift their values, beliefs, and behaviors, not just learn a new skill. And that’s why it’s hard—because it’s not just about doing something different, it’s about becoming someone different. When you lead this kind of change, the danger isn’t just that people leave—it’s that they check out. So Brian focuses on the following things: keep the pace people can handle, invite them into shaping the vision, really listen to the voices of concern, and anchor the change in habits and identity. That way, people don’t just stick around—they stay engaged in the mission.

Episode 191: Real Christian Unity: How to Have Ecumenical Conversations with More Mercy Apostolate

Episode  |  September 2nd, 2025  |  1 hr 4 mins

archdiocese of omaha, building community, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, church engagement, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategies, faith formation, intentional hospitality, making disciples, missionary disciples, neighborhood ministry, outreach discernment, outreach events, outreach planning, parish leadership, parish ministry, parish renewal, pre-evangelization, relational outreach, small group outreach, spiritual accompaniment

Can real friendship heal division in the Church? When I sit with John 17, I’m struck that He was praying for a unity that’s visible, relational, and compelling—a unity that makes the world stop and notice that He was sent by the Father. That kind of unity shows up in real friendships, in shared service, in conversations where we seek truth together—not to win an argument, but to love each other well and grow together, even when we don’t see eye to eye. It’s messy, but it’s also where the Lord does His best work. In this episode of EquipCast, I sit down with Max Chapman and Jeremiah Zimmerman from the More Mercy apostolate to talk about what this looks like in real life. Max shares how praying with John 17 sparked a deep desire in him to build bridges with Christians from other traditions. What started as simple conversations turned into friendships that not only challenged him but also strengthened his Catholic faith. You’ll hear why unity isn’t just an ideal for theologians—it’s something we’re all called to live, one relationship at a time.

How to Choose (Part 4): Relational Outreach

Episode  |  August 26th, 2025  |  56 mins 39 secs

archdiocese of omaha, building community, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic outreach ideas, catholic podcast, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization training, faith formation, intentional hospitality, making disciples, missionary disciples, neighborhood ministry, outreach discernment, outreach strategies, parish engagement, parish leadership, parish ministry, parish renewal, relational ministry, relational outreach, small group ministry

What if your parish’s most “welcoming” events are actually pushing people away? In this episode, I sit down with the team to unpack the surprising truth about relational outreach—and why it’s often the last step parishes build, even though it’s the first step many people need. We talk about what makes outreach truly relational (hint: it’s not donuts after Mass), how to create spaces where people feel like they belong before they believe, and why introverts might just be your parish’s secret evangelization weapon. If you’ve ever wondered how to reach people who’ve drifted from the Church—or never really connected in the first place—this one’s for you.

How to Choose (Part 3): Faith Formation

Episode  |  August 19th, 2025  |  56 mins 53 secs

adult faith formation, archdiocese of omaha, catechesis, catholic, catholic coaching, catholic discipleship, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, catholic small groups, church ministry tools, clear path to discipleship, discernment rosary, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith formation, kerygmatic catechesis, making disciples, missionary disciples, parish ministry, parish renewal, small group ministry, spiritual growth

What if your parish’s faith formation is creating consumer Catholics instead of disciples? In this episode of EquipCast, I sit down with my team to unpack what faith formation is really supposed to do—and why so many parishes get stuck. We talk about the difference between just teaching information and actually forming hearts and habits. You’ll hear why small groups matter, how to spot a healthy ministry, and what it takes to move people from simply learning their faith to living it—and then going on mission. We talk about launching apostolates, forming others, and becoming the kind of disciples who don’t just consume content but live it out with joy and purpose. Plus, we share some honest stories, practical tools (like the Discernment Rosary), and plenty of laughs. If you’ve ever wondered how to choose the right ministry for your clear path to discipleship—or how to fix the one you’ve got—this one’s for you.