The EquipCast

Summer Break - See you in August!

Episode  |  April 29th, 2026  |  1 min 45 secs

back in august, break, catholic, catholic ministry, clear path, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, jim jansen, making disciples

Hey friends, the EquipCast is hitting pause early for a summer reset. We’re stepping into a break starting in May… because something new, bold, and exciting is coming your way. Rest up, enjoy the summer, and get ready—we’re back in August with fresh formats, global voices, and next‑level connections. Stay tuned! 🎙️🔥

Coach’s Corner 29: A Book Review of Spousal Prayer by Deacon James Keating

Episode  |  April 14th, 2026  |  11 mins 53 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic marriage, catholic ministry, catholic ministry resources, catholic podcast, christian marriage, coaches corner, deacon james keating, disciples, emmaus road publishing, equipcast podcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and family, jim jansen, making disciples, marital prayer, marriage and prayer, marriage preparation, marriage spirituality, prayer in marriage, relational prayer, sacrament of marriage, spiritual growth in marriage, spousal prayer, staying in love

Can love in marriage really last? I believe it can—and not because we’re strong enough or compatible enough, but because God meets us there. Staying in love isn’t something we just grit our teeth and manage. It’s something we learn through prayer. Prayer with the Lord shapes our hearts, and that same habit of prayer teaches us how to truly behold, listen to, forgive, and love our spouse. In this Coaches Corner, I review the book Spousal Prayer by Deacon James Keating. It’s a small, powerful book that connects marriage and prayer in a way that’s both deep and incredibly practical. We talk about why young people fear staying in love, how prayer brings us into the reality of love, and why marriage itself can become a living, breathing prayer. Whether you’re married, preparing couples, or walking with families in ministry, this episode is meant to equip you—and remind you that lasting love is not only possible, it’s sacramental.

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

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 186: From Pew to Purpose: How to Live the Apostolate You Were Made For

Episode  |  June 17th, 2025  |  1 hr 40 secs

apostolate, apostolic mission, archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic discipleship, catholic evangelization, catholic laity, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic mission, catholic parish life, catholic podcast, discernment, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, fr. andrew mattingly, jim jansen, laity, lay apostolate, lay vocation, making disciples, ministry vs apostolate, mission in the world, parish ministry, renewing the temporal order, spiritual discernment, vatican ii laity, works of mercy

What’s at stake if we stay busy in church but miss our calling in the world? It’s easy to think serving at church—teaching, volunteering, helping with Mass—is the main way lay people live out their faith. But here’s the truth: our primary call isn’t just ministry inside the Church—it’s apostolate out in the world. That means bringing Jesus into your workplace, your neighborhood, and your everyday life. That’s where you’re meant to shine. And what’s at stake? Souls. If we don’t take time to discern our apostolate, some of the people God placed in our path may never encounter Him. This isn’t just about filling time—it’s about stepping into the mission only you can fulfill. The Church needs you. And the world desperately needs Jesus. Tune in for a powerful conversation with Fr. Andrew Mattingly, who tells us that sometimes, reaching the world means cutting back on “good” church programs—because when a parish is over-programmed, it can pull focus from the real mission. But when we zero in on what actually forms people for their apostolate, we gain clarity, energy, and fruitfulness. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most.

Episode 185: Hispanic Ministry: The gift your parish needs

Episode  |  June 10th, 2025  |  57 mins 30 secs

archdiocese of omaha, bilingual ministry, catholic, catholic church, catholic evangelization, catholic ministry, catholic podcast, deacon gregorio elizalde, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, hispanic catholic gifts, hispanic catholics, hispanic culture in the church, hispanic faith, hispanic ministry, hispanic spirituality, hispanic youth, intercultural ministry, jim jansen, latino catholics, making disciples, parish renewal, parish support

Could Hispanic spirituality be the gift your parish needs? In this episode, I sit down with Deacon Gregorio Elizalde, who leads Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Omaha. We talk about what really makes Hispanic ministry tick—and spoiler alert—it’s not just about translating resources into Spanish. It’s about receiving culture, building trust, and forming real relationships. Deacon Gregorio shares powerful insights into how many Hispanic Catholics show up with this deep, family-rooted faith that’s joyful, sacrificial, and incredibly contagious. There’s a deep sense of devotion, hospitality, and joy, even in the midst of hardship in Hispanic Catholic communities. And honestly, their ability to evangelize through relationships, through retreats, through just showing up with love—that’s a gift we desperately need in the Church today. If you're leading in a parish, or just want to understand how to better welcome and walk with our Hispanic brothers and sisters, this conversation will open your eyes and maybe even shift your heart.

Coach's Corner 21: Hope – The Church’s Key to Renewal

Episode  |  June 3rd, 2025  |  13 mins 47 secs

archdiocese of omaha, catholic, catholic evangelization, catholic leadership, catholic ministry, catholic mission, catholic podcast, church renewal, cultural change in the church, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and culture, holy fear, hope, jim jansen, jubilee of hope, making disciples, mission and discipleship, parish transformation, pastoral conversion, repentance and hope, saints and renewal, spiritual renewal, tipping point

What if real cultural change is just 15% away—and we’re closer than we think? In this Coach’s Corner, I’m diving into something that’s been really stirring in my heart: hope. Not the wishful-thinking kind, but the kind that’s born from repentance—a deep turning back to God with a holy fear of offending His love. When we do that, we make space for His grace to move, to renew, to restore. That’s where real hope comes alive. I also talk about why I truly believe cultural change is possible—even now. Did you know it only takes about 15% of a group to shift the culture? That means if just a small part of our parish gets fired up for the Gospel and mission, it can spark something way bigger. I’ve seen it happen. And more importantly—God’s done it before. I share stories, reflect on saints and past renewals, and talk about how a mission mindset, paired with corporate repentance, can set the stage for transformation. I end the episode with a prayer asking God to move in power again—because I really believe He’s not done with us yet. If you’ve been feeling discouraged or wondering if your yes to God really matters, this one’s for you.

Episode 169: Praying with Purpose: Expect God to Speak About Your Mission with Hannah Vaughan-Spruce

Episode  |  December 10th, 2024  |  57 mins 31 secs

catholic, catholic ministry, catholic parish transformation, church growth, community prayer practices, disciples, divine renovation, equipcast podcast, evangelism, evangelization, evangelization strategies, faith and mission, hannah von spruce, holy spirit in parish life, intercessory prayer, jim jansen, making disciples, mission-inspired prayer, parish renewal, prayer and mission, spiritual leadership

Have you ever wondered how to bring the Lord into your work, expanding your prayer life beyond personal devotion? In this episode, we explore missional prayer—prayer that aligns our hearts with the Holy Spirit, focusing on the transformation of our parishes and neighborhoods. It's about moving beyond inward devotion to intentional, outward-facing prayer for mission and evangelization. Discover how coming together as a community to seek God's guidance and power can bring about renewal and fruitfulness in our mission. Learn to pray with a purpose, trusting that God wants to work through us to reach those who don’t yet know Him. Join me as I talk with Hannah Vaughan-Spruce, Executive Director of Divine Renovation UK, who shares her insights.