Nurturing the Mind and Heart: Salesian Wisdom for Raising Teen Girls

Kati Krueger and Caroline Handorf
  • 5.0 (10)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

"Nurturing the Mind and Heart: Salesian Wisdom for Raising Teen Girls" is the podcast where Catholic values and Salesian wisdom meet modern insights for guiding your teen daughter through the joys and challenges of adolescence.

  1. 5D AGO

    The Power of Personal Prayer

    In this engaging conversation, Kati, Ellen, and a guest, longtime Visitation staff member Arjetta Faulkner-Ekandem, explore the multifaceted nature of prayer and its significance in personal and communal life. Arjetta shares her journey of developing a personal prayer life, emphasizing the importance of direct communication with God. The discussion delves into how to listen for God's voice amidst life's busyness, the strength found in prayer during challenging times, and the role of prayer in teaching children about faith. The conversation highlights various forms of prayer, the importance of authenticity, and the impact of mentorship in spiritual growth.

  2. FEB 17 · BONUS

    Being Who You Are and Being That Well as a Mom

    At Georgetown Visitation’s Salesian Motherhood Workshop, speaker Ann O’Neil Gradowski ‘81 spoke about how mothers can “be who we are and be that very well so as to bring honor to the Master Craftsman whose handiwork you are” (St. Francis de Sales). She shared personal stories and insights about the different phases of mothering our children and nurturing other people.

    38 min

  3. FEB 10

    Filling Your Own Cup: A Parent's Journey

    In this conversation, Kati and Ellen discuss the importance of self-care, gratitude, and modeling balance for children as parents. They emphasize the need to fill one's own cup to handle life's demands, and the significance of maintaining perspective during challenging times. The discussion also touches on practical strategies for incorporating gratitude practices and family time into daily life, highlighting the joy that comes from shared experiences and the importance of being present for one another.

  4. JAN 27

    Balance: A Parent's Guide to Navigating Screen Time

    In this episode, hosts Kati and Ellen kick off Season 3 by discussing the pressing issue of screen time and its impact on children, particularly teenagers. They reflect on their own experiences as mothers navigating the complexities of technology in their children's lives. The conversation highlights the importance of setting boundaries around screen use, sharing personal anecdotes about their decisions regarding when to give their children phones, and how to manage screen time effectively. They emphasize the need for open communication with children about technology and the benefits of fostering real-life interactions over digital ones. Kati and Ellen also share practical strategies for managing screen time, such as using lock boxes for devices, limiting access to certain apps, and creating device-free zones during family meals. They discuss the positive outcomes of encouraging outdoor play and social interactions among children, which can be hindered by excessive screen use. The episode concludes with both hosts reflecting on the privilege of childhood and the importance of preserving that innocence by managing technology thoughtfully.

  5. 12/16/2025 · BONUS

    Empathy: The Path to Peace

    This bonus episode is a recording from a Fides Et Scientia - faith and knowledge, Georgetown Visitation’s motto - speaker event on November 6, 2025. The conversation, sponsored by the PeaceWorks Foundation, explores the themes of peace, conflict resolution, and the importance of empathy through the lived experience of two men in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kobi Skolnick and Jasser Abu Mousa each share their personal stories and reflections, emphasizing the need for dialogue, education, and collective action to foster understanding and healing in communities affected by trauma and violence.

    38 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    Motherhood: It Takes Faith & a Village

    In this conversation, Kati Krueger and Adri Smith Reig explore the multifaceted experience of motherhood, emphasizing the importance of community, faith, and personal growth. They discuss the season of Advent and how this moment of preparing to receive Jesus incarnate into the world – and Mary’s total yes to God’s plan – takes on deeper meaning when you are nurturing your own children. The conversation also highlights the upcoming Salesian Motherhood Workshop, aimed at fostering connections among mothers and sharing experiences across generations and different ways of being life-givers to others. You are welcome to register here.

  7. 11/25/2025

    The Art of Archiving

    In this conversation, Kati Krueger interviews Genevieve Kocienda, our school archivist, about the significance of archives, the art of storytelling, and the importance of preserving family history. Genevieve shares her diverse background and how it informs her work in archiving, emphasizing the value of primary sources and the serendipitous discoveries that come with archival research. The discussion also touches on practical tips for preserving family heirlooms and the importance of recognizing the historical significance of personal stories. Salesian Spirituality tells us that little moments matter, and we see that play out in how people’s lives and stories are told and rediscovered through archives and research.

  8. 11/11/2025

    Visterhood: Our Shared Holy Friendship

    Amelia Blanton-Hibner and Claire Kranz, Kati’s two counterparts in sharing the Salesian charism at Visitation Academy in St. Louis and Visitation School in Mendota Heights, respectively, join Kati to discuss our shared mission as Visitation educators, and how we collaborate across the Visitation Salesian Network. We share the opportunities we provide Visitation students from different campuses get to know one another in service and leadership, growing in holy friendship - like that of Elizabeth and Mary - in spite of our distance. The Visitation Salesian Network supports our schools as we help our students and colleagues in their Salesian formation.

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"Nurturing the Mind and Heart: Salesian Wisdom for Raising Teen Girls" is the podcast where Catholic values and Salesian wisdom meet modern insights for guiding your teen daughter through the joys and challenges of adolescence.

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