FOCUS Catholic

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Channel • 4 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Weekly
Christianity

Christianity

Updated Weekly
Christianity

Christianity

Updated Weekly
Christianity

Christianity

Updated Biweekly

JAN 16

Seasons & Little Treats

Life comes in seasons — some cozy, some hard, some confusing — and this week on What a Gift, Jule and Sarra unwrap how to recognize them, survive them, and even receive them with gratitude. Jule reflects on seasons of the year (fall lovers, rise up 🍂), seasons of life (singleness, grief, confidence, getting your spark back), and why naming the season you’re in can actually bring peace and perspective. Sarra shares what it’s like to feel “behind” while still building a full, meaningful life — and how stepping into leadership and confidence can be its own season. Then we unwrap little treat culture — when it helps, when it doesn’t, and how small rewards (coffee, flowers, dessert, tequila toasts, croissants) can motivate us to keep going without rewarding mediocrity. We wrap up with everyone’s favorite segment, The Gift of Perspective, featuring: Sarra’s childhood reading diary (an accidental roast) Jule’s 2020 pandemic birthday journal entry that hits differently in hindsight ✨ Takeaway: You don’t have to rush your season. Name it. Receive it. And don’t forget — life is a gift.

Jan 16

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40 min
2D AGO

Transforming Lives: The Journey of Hope for the Homeless

In this episode of Unwritten, host Trevor sits down with Craig Johring, whose life and mission have been shaped by years of walking alongside the poor in Mexico City. Craig shares the powerful story of Luis — a former street kid whose life was marked by addiction, instability, and survival on the margins. What followed wasn’t a quick fix or a feel-good moment, but a slow, demanding journey rooted in presence, love, and faith. Through his organization, Hope of the Poor, Craig describes what real transformation looks like when someone is given more than help — when they’re given dignity, accountability, and a community that refuses to give up. In This Episode You’ll Hear:❤️ What authentic love looks like when it’s lived daily🏠 Why a safe place is only the beginning of healing🤝 How accountability becomes an act of mercy🔥 Why helping others is often the final step toward freedom🙏 The quiet, faithful work that changes lives over time This episode is a reminder that transformation rarely happens all at once — but when someone is willing to stay, to love, and to believe, even the most broken stories can begin again. learn more about Hope of the Poor here: https://hopeofthepoor.org/

2d ago

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12 min
JAN 8

Monoculture & TV Shows

This week on What a Gift, Jule and Sarra unwrap one of their favorite genres of life: pop culture. After shouting out Giftie Jenna Reid for the iconic opening tagline (“detached to spiritually snatched”), they kick things off with a humbling Buffalo Exchange story, cozy backyard dinner parties, and the art of making everyday moments feel special. Then Jule unwraps the gift of monoculture — those rare moments when it feels like everyone is tuned into the same thing at the same time (think: network TV finales, Super Bowl halftime show discourse, Taylor Swift drops, even eclipse week). In a world where everything feels more fragmented, they talk about why shared cultural moments can feel surprisingly meaningful. Sarra unwraps the gift of TV shows — from early reality-competition classics (American Idol, Survivor) to comfort rewatches (Friends, Gilmore Girls, Golden Girls), prestige TV (Severance), modern sitcom gold (Abbott Elementary), and iconic miniseries (Pride & Prejudice, Band of Brothers). They explore how great shows can build empathy, inspire virtue, and spark connection—when enjoyed in moderation. Finally, they play White Elephant (receive / return / regift) with: silver jewelry, Settlers of Catan, live-action remakes, martinis, Labubus, FaceTime calls, and the sourdough starter craze. As always, Gifties: life is a gift—so receive it.

Jan 8

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46 min
JAN 13

“Does Jesus Have Eyes Like You?”

In this episode of Unwritten, a simple act of kindness opens the door to one of the most unforgettable questions ever asked on the streets. On a cold, gray November morning in Minneapolis, a tired missionary is packing up after a long day of serving the homeless — rejected, exhausted, and ready to go home. Then a voice calls out from behind him: "Hey… you got any more coffee?" What begins as a cup of hot coffee turns into a sacred encounter neither of them expected. In This Episode You’ll Hear:☕ Why small acts of mercy can change everything❄️ Life on the streets — addiction, survival, and lost dignity💔 A mother’s heartbreak over a son she longs to see again🙏 The Gospel shared in the mess, not after it’s cleaned up👀 The question that stopped everything: “Does Jesus have eyes like you?”❤️ What it means to truly see someone — beyond labels, pasts, and masks This episode is a powerful reminder that Jesus meets us exactly where we are, that no one is beyond hope, and that sometimes the holiest moments happen on cold sidewalks with nothing more than a cup of coffee and a willing heart. Learn more about Br. Adam and his mission here: https://brotherhoodofhope.org/

Jan 13

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12 min
12/31/2025

Crying & Fresh Starts (The New Years Ep)

This week on the What a Gift podcast, we’re moving from the "Book of Job" chapter of our lives into a fresh start. We're getting honest about grief, work-life boundaries, and why a good cry is the ultimate New Year's detox. Plus, we keep tabs on Jennifer Aniston’s "love hypnotist" boyfriend and the medical kinship we share with her. 🎁 WHAT’S INSIDE 🎁 The Gift of Fresh Starts We dive into what it means to begin again, especially after a year that felt like a "hermit year". Jule reflects on the "hard but good" reality of 2025, navigating her first year of marriage while grieving the loss of her best friend, David. Jule launches the “Jule Gets Her Spark Back Challenge" for 2026, committing to leaving the house after dark, sweating daily, and returning to open mic nights where she can use her gifts. Sarra discusses the heavy weight of a new promotion and her goal to stop being her own slave driver. We realize that "busy" is no excuse for failing to be a whole, flourishing person. Jule officially challenges Sarra to a dating challenge: hit the apps and message a million people "Coffee?" so we have more to talk about on the pod. Sarra is officially looking for a "joyful young lumberjack". The Gift of Crying Sarra unwraps the gift of crying, which Jule calls "very cleansing" and essential for a fresh start. Sarra shares her office "cry count tally" and how she transitioned from not crying for years to being moved by a "gentle breeze". Jule admits to being a "kryptonite" for scenes involving unconfident young boys, from Dustin at the Snow Ball in Stranger Things to random teenagers at stop signs. We discuss "gratitude tears" and how being overcome by the goodness of humanity—like TikToks of people being given new houses—is a deeply penetrating experience for the soul.

12/31/2025

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49 min
JAN 14

Why “Everything Happens for a Reason” Can Do More Harm Than Good

“Everything happens for a reason” is meant to comfort — but does it actually help? In this episode of the All-In Podcast, John Michael, Jose, and Clayton unpack why this common phrase often ends up hurting more than healing, especially when someone is walking through deep suffering. Through honest stories about dementia, disability, and the struggle to make sense of real tragedy, the guys explore why we reach for clichés when we feel powerless — and why presence, empathy, and listening often speak louder than theological explanations. In This Episode You’ll Hear: 💬 Why “everything happens for a reason” often becomes a coping cliché 🧠 The human need for control — and how uncertainty makes us grasp for meaning ❤️ Vulnerable stories of suffering: dementia, disability, and family hardship ✝️ What the Church means (and doesn’t mean) by “redemptive suffering” 🤝 How to support a grieving friend when you have nothing helpful to say 🪑 Why showing up — not fixing — is the most healing response If you’ve ever walked with someone through pain, wrestled with your own grief, or struggled with what to say in hard moments, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a far better alternative to the clichés we tend to reach for. Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes! LISTEN & FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE: Listen on Spotify → ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4vnHBKphp6xEBUsJNerBdT?si=59poYSVvQVOzj8TOIaHPaQ⁠ Listen on Apple Podcasts → ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-in/id1831854757⁠ Listen on YouTube→ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@All-In-focus-c⁠ CONNECT WITH FOCUS ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/focuscatholic/⁠ HAVE A QUESTION OR GUEST SUGGESTION? Email us at ⁠allin@focus.org⁠ or leave a comment! Join Our Email List → ⁠seekreplay.com⁠ For more original content and early releases, please visit ⁠seekreplay.com⁠ All In is a production of FOCUS. ⁠www.focus.org

Jan 14

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42 min
12/04/2025

Chores & Traditions

When you think about it, didn’t scrubbing the bathroom as kids teach us a lifetime of work ethic? This week on the What a Gift podcast, we're diving into the daily routines and intentional rituals that shaped our lives. We're getting honest, we're getting real, and we're unwrapping the gifts hiding in traditions and chores. 🎁 WHAT’S INSIDE 🎁 The Gift of Chores We begin by discussing the gifts found in household duties, reflecting on how both our fathers, who had served in the Navy, enforced a strict ethos of chores. Jule unwraps the gift of chores, recalling the family standard of Saturday chore day. Jule shares her resentment over having to clean the hall bathroom used by her two brothers (noting that they somehow can never pee directly into the toilet) while her brothers got to mow the lawn. Sarra recounts her own experience with chores, sharing that while growing up she sometimes felt like an indentured slave to her parents, the duties taught her skills, contrasting her experience with that of a former roommate who, upon finding a lamp bulb had burnt out assumed the entire lamp was broken. The Gift of Traditions Sarra unwraps the gift of traditions, stating that traditions help carve out special moments and prevent a week or a year from becoming a "blank homogeneous blob of days". Sarra shares a tradition from her time on a FOCUS team, where birthdays were celebrated with a special breakfast and a personalized song written by her team director and campus minister. Jule visualizes holidays as the "little special squares" on a Candy Land board of life. Jule remembers her mother’s dedication to building traditions, such as lining up in age order before opening Christmas presents, and singing "O come, O come, Emmanuel" during Advent dinners. The conversation focuses on the infamous Coppa Family Easter tradition, which was a highly competitive basket hunt requiring participants to follow a trail of cryptic, rhyming couplets written by Jule's dad. Sarra relates her own traumatic Easter story where her dad hid her solid chocolate bunny in an outrageous location. * * * Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes! Hang out with us and thousands of other Gifties at SEEK in January ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/3IPoew4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AND when you register, use promo code FOCUSGIFT for exclusive pre-SEEK content, including never-before-released talks from Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Bethany Madonna SV and more, AND a chance to win one of three $100 vouchers for FOCUS/SEEK Merch! LISTEN & FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE: 🚨 Head over to Replay to watch the latest episode a week ahead of everywhere else! http://www.seekreplay.com/category/whatagift/ Find it on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@whatagiftpodcast Find it on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4vnHBKphp6xEBUsJNerBdT?si=59poYSVvQVOzj8TOIaHPaQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find it on Apple Podcasts → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-a-gift/id1839023006⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ✨ Sarra’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarrara/ ✨ Jule’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/c0ppacabana/ ✨ FOCUS' IG: https://www.instagram.com/focuscatholic/ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠whatagift@focus.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a comment! Register on Replay to join our email list → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seekreplay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more original content and early releases, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seekreplay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What a Gift is a production of FOCUS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.focus.org⁠⁠

12/04/2025

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41 min
12/11/2025

Talking It Out & Social Media

What if your greatest strength is your biggest flaw, and what if your phone knows you better than you know yourself? This week on the What a Gift podcast, We dive into the skills of talking it out and the blessing and curse that is social media. We get honest, real, and unwrap the gifts hiding in healthy communication, online identity, and why letting go of unspoken shame is the ultimate relief. 🎁 WHAT’S INSIDE 🎁 The Gift of Talking It Out We begin by discussing the human need and necessary skill of addressing conflict. Jule, an external processor, shares that she must instantly talk it out if she senses that the "vibe is off". She admits that she tends toward being an "anxious people pleaser" and has learned patience from her introverted husband, Chris, who needs time to process conflicts. Sarra reflects on learning healthy conflict resolution as an adult and her past tendency to keep conflict to herself, believing, "I'm just a burden. I'll just keep it to myself". They discuss the profound power of speaking shame aloud, noting that when hard things are "locked up inside of us, it's so easy to believe that it's our identity". As soon as something is spoken aloud, "it's separate from us". Confession and therapy are named as powerful places to speak the "unspeakable," allowing light to shine on problems and helping them find the truth. The Gift of Social Media Sarra unwraps the gift of social media, stating that she sees it as a tool that can be wielded in a healthy way. Jule shares how early social media (AOL Instant Messenger and MySpace) fundamentally rewired her brain chemistry, especially as a homeschooler. This era created an obsession with crafting her "brand," asking herself: "what color am I and what buddy icon am I". We discuss the constant pressure of being perceived, noting that social media changes brain chemistry to make users think all the time about how we are being perceived. Jule notes that TikTok has served as a mentor, teaching her new recipes and techniques like how to do her eyebrows. We stress the importance of gut checks to ensure we’re not measuring ourselves against fake curated lives. * * * Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes! Hang out with us and thousands of other Gifties at SEEK in January ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/3IPoew4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AND when you register, use promo code FOCUSGIFT for exclusive pre-SEEK content, including never-before-released talks from Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Bethany Madonna SV and more, AND a chance to win one of three $100 vouchers for FOCUS/SEEK Merch! LISTEN & FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE: 🚨 Head over to Replay to watch the latest episode a week ahead of everywhere else! http://www.seekreplay.com/category/whatagift/ Find it on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@whatagiftpodcast Find it on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4vnHBKphp6xEBUsJNerBdT?si=59poYSVvQVOzj8TOIaHPaQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find it on Apple Podcasts → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-a-gift/id1839023006⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ✨ Sarra’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarrara/ ✨ Jule’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/c0ppacabana/ ✨ FOCUS' IG: https://www.instagram.com/focuscatholic/ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠whatagift@focus.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a comment! Register on Replay to join our email list → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seekreplay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more original content and early releases, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seekreplay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What a Gift is a production of FOCUS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.focus.org⁠⁠

12/11/2025

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40 min
JAN 6

When Prayer Feels Fruitless — Until It Isn’t

In this episode of Unwritten, Trevor Barreca sits down with Melissa Sartori, who shares a quiet but powerful story of how God works long before we ever see the fruit. While serving on a small Catholic campus in the Northeast, he was tasked with reaching student athletes — a group that made up nearly a quarter of the entire student body. Many were open, curious, and eager. But one athlete, Caitlyn, always stayed just out of reach: friendly, kind, smiling… yet never willing to go deeper. Despite little visible progress, she never left his prayers. And then, on a cold November night — with plans canceled and Thanksgiving break hours away — everything changed. In This Episode You’ll Hear:🏃‍♀️ Life as a campus missionary working with student athletes🙏 What it looks like to pray faithfully when nothing seems to be happening🚪 The unexpected knock on the door that changed everything💔 Caitlyn’s story of broken relationships, addiction, and deep loneliness❤️ A raw conversation about emptiness, longing, and the desire to be loved✝️ The simple prayer that opened the door to a real relationship with Jesus This episode is a reminder that no one is a lost cause, that God is always planting seeds beneath the surface, and that our smallest prayers — even when they feel unnoticed — may be preparing the ground for something life-changing.

Jan 6

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9 min
11/20/2025

Best Days Ever & Musicals

Are we working to live, or living to work? This week on the What a Gift podcast, where we're trying to go from being yucky to feeling lucky, Jule and Sarra push past the expensive trips and curated events to uncover the "super natural" moments of genuine connection that redefine the "Best Day Ever". We dive into the peak moments that shape us and explore the art form that demands we break into song. 🎁 WHAT’S INSIDE 🎁 The Gift of the ‘Best Day Ever’ We dive deep into the concept of the "Best Day Ever," defining them not as grand, expensive events, but as ordinary things where the relationships at play make the experience truly supernatural. Sarra shares the story of a weekend she spent at a cabin in Colorado with a random assortment of people, featuring puzzles, making favorite meals, and a legendary night where the parents put the kids to bed only to go downstairs and party. Hear how the energy shifted from twirling to their first dance songs to dancing to the Backstreet Boys. Jule recounts "the great Philly check-in," a planned long weekend that included a PowerPoint presentation for proposed activities, a BYOB dinner, a college football game, and culminated in a house party where she had a moment of contentment—right before she met her husband. We discuss why relationship is the only essential ingredient for a peak experience. The Gift of Musicals We get nerdy and unwrap the gift of musicals. Jule discusses her lifelong passion, sharing how she was an ardent fan (a "wicked head") of Wicked, declaring herself an "alphaba". She also shares the childhood ritual of cleaning the kitchen every night with her nine siblings to the soundtrack of Newsies, resulting in full choreography and thick Brooklyn accents. Jule also recounts her theater career, detailing her curse of always being cast as the mom, old lady, or comic relief, until her senior year lead role in Sweeney Todd. Sarra lists her foundational favorites, including Wicked, Lion King, Guys and Dolls, and notes that Sound of Music can never be topped. Plus, we discuss the major impact of Hamilton and Funny Girl. White Elephant (Closing Segment) We share hot takes and decide whether to receive, return, or regift items from daily life from Chacos to cold plunge. * * * Hit follow or subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes! Hang out with us and thousands of other Gifties at SEEK in January ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://bit.ly/3IPoew4⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AND when you register, use promo code FOCUSGIFT for exclusive pre-SEEK content, including never-before-released talks from Fr. Mike Schmitz, Sr. Bethany Madonna SV and more, AND a chance to win one of three $100 vouchers for FOCUS/SEEK Merch! LISTEN & FOLLOW US EVERYWHERE: 🚨 Head over to Replay to watch the latest episode a week ahead of everywhere else! http://www.seekreplay.com/category/whatagift/ Find it on YouTube → https://youtube.com/@whatagiftpodcast Find it on Spotify → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/4vnHBKphp6xEBUsJNerBdT?si=59poYSVvQVOzj8TOIaHPaQ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find it on Apple Podcasts → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-a-gift/id1839023006⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: ✨ Sarra’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sarrara/ ✨ Jule’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/c0ppacabana/ ✨ FOCUS' IG: https://www.instagram.com/focuscatholic/ Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠whatagift@focus.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or leave a comment! Register on Replay to join our email list → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seekreplay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For more original content and early releases, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠seekreplay.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ What a Gift is a production of FOCUS. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.focus.org⁠⁠

11/20/2025

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40 min

"We have only this life to live by faith." -St. Therese of Lisieux