EquipCast

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

archdiocese of omaha, archdiocese of omaha podcast, catholic, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, christian goal setting, discernment tools, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and goals, goal setting with god, ignatian spirituality, ignatian-inspired process, lisa kelly, living with purpose, making disciples, prayerful planning, spiritual clarity, spiritual discernment, spiritual growth, the spiritual path book

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.

Coach's Corner 25: Pope Leo's Christmas List: Six Gifts That Could Change the Church

Episode  |  December 2nd, 2025  |  13 mins 39 secs

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What’s on Pope Leo’s Christmas list—and can you fulfill it for him? He’s not asking for gifts wrapped in paper and bows. His wish is for a Church renewed in mission, united in love, and bold in proclaiming Christ first. Imagine communities that listen deeply, care tenderly for the least, and engage the world with courage and hope. That’s the heart behind his six desires—and together, we can make them real.

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

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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.

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

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

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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.