EquipCast

Episode 200: Courageous Conversations – How to Break the Silence and Bring Healing with Mari Pablo

Episode  |  November 18th, 2025  |  58 mins 6 secs

archdiocese of omaha, bridging cultural and generational divides in the church, building trust and unity in catholic communities, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic podcast on difficult topics and evangelization, disciples, evangelism, evangelization, faith-based approach to sensitive topics like sexuality, how to have courageous conversations in catholic ministry, how to speak truth with compassion in ministry, making disciples, mari pablo equipcast interview on evangelization, overcoming fear in evangelization and discipleship, practical strategies for hard conversations in parish life, tips for talking about mental health and faith

What do you do when silence feels safer than the truth? Rely on God to give you the grace and courage to do what your strength can’t: turn difficult moments into opportunities for honesty, deeper trust, and real healing. In this episode of EquipCast, I sit down with Mari Pablo—a fearless, bilingual evangelist who isn’t afraid to step into the topics most people avoid. Together, we talk about how to build trust, speak truth with compassion, and bridge cultural and generational divides in the Church. Mari shares practical strategies for navigating sensitive issues like mental health and sexuality without fear—and without losing sight of Christ. If you’ve ever hesitated to start a hard conversation or wondered how to lead with both honesty and hope, this episode will inspire you to lean on Jesus and embrace the mission He’s given you.

Episode 199: Pilgrims of Hope: The Recipe for Lasting Parish Renewal with Julianne Stanz

Episode  |  November 11th, 2025  |  1 hr 7 mins

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic parish renewal, church change management, disciples, discipleship in action, evangelism, evangelization, faith-based leadership, julianne stanz, loyola press, making disciples, managing church change, ministry transformation, parish leadership, pastoral planning

What if the secret to transforming your parish isn’t doing more—but praying more deeply and trusting God to lead? We’ve seen it happen. The Diocese of Green Bay started small, rooted everything in prayer, and asked the Holy Spirit to guide them. The results were beyond what they imagined: seminarians doubled, schools flourished, and parishes once half-empty now overflow. In this episode, I talk with Julianne Stanz—a nationally recognized leader in evangelization whose own encounter with God set her on this path—about the real ingredients for lasting renewal. Together, we explore how prayer, vision, relationships, and simple, steady steps can turn hope into a movement. It’s not a program; it’s a way of life that lets God bring new life to His Church.

Episode 198: The Key to More Vocations: Creating Safe Spaces for Faith to Flourish

Episode  |  November 4th, 2025  |  45 mins 11 secs

archdiocese of omaha, authentic relationships, calling, catholic, catholic community, catholic education, catholic ministry, catholic parents, catholic podcast, catholic schools, catholic storytelling, catholic vocations, discernment journey, disciples, discipleship, equipcast, eucharist, evangelism, evangelization, faith and culture, faith formation, fr. scott schilmoeller, jim jansen, making disciples, mentoring youth, newman center, prayer life, priesthood, religious life, safe spaces for faith, small groups, spiritual growth, vocation discernment, vocational crisis, vocations, young adults, youth ministry

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 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.