Modern Catholic Family

Jim Schubert
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Modern Catholic Family empowers families to anchor in the fullness of Catholic living. It is the only platform designed specifically for Catholic families, offering guidance and community that unite the ancient wisdom of the Catholic Church with the dynamic needs of today’s family.

  1. 4d ago

    The Intimacy We All Crave

    Send us Fan Mail What if the deepest ache in the human heart, the craving to be seen, heard, and truly known, can only be satisfied by God? Jim and Meghan sit down with Daniel, who now leads marriage and family ministry with Family Honor, to explore why every human heart longs to be seen, heard, and known, and how that longing ultimately points back to God. Drawing on nearly two decades in ministry and his own conversion story at Georgia Tech, Daniel unpacks the counterfeits our culture offers in place of real intimacy and why lasting love starts with the love of God. He also opens up about parenting six teenagers, walking through a son's wandering faith, and the daily battle every family faces in choosing what leans toward the Lord. What’s in this episode: Why intimacy is the deepest longing behind our addictions and strugglesDaniel's conversion moment sparked by a crude joke at Georgia TechFamily Honor's in-person workshops for parents and childrenPrograms built for different ages, from puberty through datingThe foundation of virtue and why God's rules protect, not restrictNavigating a teenage son's struggle with faith and confirmationWhy the battle for our souls plays out in daily small decisionsOne resource every Catholic family should know: The Catechism of the Catholic ChurchBook he is currently reading: Lay Siege to Heaven by Louis De WohlAdvice to his younger self: Start a prayer life and keep adding to itFinal wisdom for listeners: Remember the constant, eternal battle for your soul in every choiceResources Mentioned: Family Honor Inc – Workshops helping parents talk to kids about God, love, life, and sexuality Lay Siege to Heaven by Louis De Wohl – A novel on the life of St. Catherine of Siena Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    The Intimacy We All Crave

  2. Sep 1

    Taking Jesus and Young People Seriously

    Send us Fan Mail What would it look like if we actually took young people's faith as seriously as they're capable of living it? Jim and Meghan sit down with Eric Gallagher, husband, father of five, and executive director of Lolek Ministries, to talk about his own teenage conversion and the two decades he's spent helping young people build a real, lasting relationship with Jesus. From silent retreats to one-on-one spiritual mentorship, Eric shares why he believes "spiritual health" is a more useful measure than "spiritual life," and how a simple toolbox of prayer and discipleship can carry someone from high school through marriage and parenthood. What’s in this episode: Eric's teenage conversion story at a Steubenville conferenceThe priest and father who shaped his early faith formationSt. Francis de Sales' "Introduction to the Devout Life" as a turning pointGoing Deeper Retreats and the shift to one-on-one spiritual mentorshipWhy "spiritual health" is a more actionable term than "spiritual life"The new Spiritual Health Inventory tool from Lolek MinistriesA powerful story of three sisters transformed by quiet discipleshipThe danger of expecting fruit from young converts too soonFriendship and community as an antidote to spiritual isolationEric's toolbox approach to lifelong spiritual growthOne resource every Catholic family should know: The Hallow App, SOCA, Ignatian discernment resources, and Discerning HeartsBook he is currently reading: A study guide on St. Teresa of Ávila's "The Interior Castle"Favorite book: "Into Your Hands, Father" by Fr. Wilfrid StinissenAdvice to his younger self: Trust silence and trust prayer, and seek out St. Francis de Sales soonerFinal wisdom for listeners: Take honest stock of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your life, then make time for a day or weekend retreatResources Mentioned: Lolek Ministries – Nonprofit focused on feeding the spiritually hungry Spiritual Health Inventory – New beta tool for assessing your spiritual health baseline Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales – Classic guide Eric credits with transforming his own faith Into Your Hands, Father by Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen – Eric's top recommendation on trust and abandonment to God The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Ávila – The classic Eric is currently working through via a study guide Hallow App – Popular Catholic prayer and meditation app Discerning Hearts – Resources on prayer, discernment, and spiritual formation Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    Taking Jesus and Young People Seriously

  3. Aug 25

    Surviving the Sandwich Generation (Still Trying!)

    Send us Fan Mail Noelle Garcia  knows what it means to be squeezed from every side. As a homeschool mom of six and full-time caregiver to her mother-in-law, she joins Jim and Meghan to share her family's journey through the sandwich generation, caring for aging parents while still raising children at home. From her father-in-law's cancer battle and unexpected deathbed conversion to the daily challenges of dementia care, Noelle speaks with honesty about grief, exhaustion, and grace. She offers practical wisdom on self-care, marriage, and leaning on community when the weight feels like too much to carry alone. What’s in this episode: Her father-in-law's cancer battle and his powerful deathbed conversionBringing a mother-in-law with dementia to live in their homeThe real difference between self-soothing and lasting self-careProtecting marriage while both spouses are stretched thinA fasting mishap that turned into an answered prayerWhy community turns isolating struggles into shared crossesOne resource every Catholic family should know: Catholic FamilyLand in Ohio, a Catholic family camp with a Marian consecration retreatBook she is currently reading: Theo of GoldenAdvice to her younger self: Don't put all your eggs in one basket - trust that God is working even when one thing doesn't work outFinal wisdom for listeners: Find your community and share your struggles, because others are likely carrying something similarResources Mentioned: Catholic FamilyLand - A Catholic family camp offering a Marian consecration retreat  Dementia Careblazers - YouTube channel with caregiving tips for redirection and calm  Gospel of Life Disciples + Dwellings - A Catholic hospice ministry run by religious sisters  Theo of Golden - Novel about uncovering strangers' stories through portraits Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    Surviving the Sandwich Generation (Still Trying!)

  4. Aug 11

    You Were Made for This: The Family on Mission

    Send us Fan Mail "Your family has a mission." That's what Julie Liotta's priest told her in confession one ordinary Wednesday morning, and the words changed everything. Jim and Meghan sit down with Julie, a former Marine Corps company commander now serving as coordinator for adult faith formation and evangelization at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, to talk about what it means to live as a family on mission. Drawing from her years in the Marine Corps, her work walking converts through OCIA, and story after story of God pursuing hearts in unexpected ways, Julie shows how ordinary moments, from chicken tenders to confession, become the mission field. What’s in this episode: The moment a priest told Julie her family has a missionLessons from the Marine Corps on leadership and missionThe atheist midshipman who asked, "Am I invited?"A stranger's 40-year journey away from the Church and backEncouraging a man wrestling with frustration in his conversionWhy pausing before speaking opens space for the Holy SpiritThe surprising origin story behind Teams of Our LadyJulie's work leading OCIA at the Shrine of the Most Blessed SacramentWhy being fully yourself is key to sharing your faithA call to be brave in living out your Catholic identityOne resource every Catholic family should know: Teams of Our LadyBook she is currently reading: 60 Days to Becoming a Missionary Disciple by Fr. John BartunekFavorite book: Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'DellAdvice to her younger self: Be present exactly where you are, because that's where God is pursuing youFinal wisdom for listeners: Be brave. The world needs brave people who aren't afraid to be who they're called to be.Resources Mentioned: Teams of Our Lady – A lay apostolate that helps married couples grow closer in faith and community 60 Days to Becoming a Missionary Disciple by Fr. John Bartunek – A 60 day guide to living as a missionary disciple Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell – A classic novel that ignited Julie's love of reading as a child Camp Wojtyla – A Catholic summer camp for kids in Colorado Mustard Seed Communities – A Catholic community in Jamaica serving people with disabilities Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    You Were Made for This: The Family on Mission

  5. Aug 4

    Why Our Family Escapes Every Summer and What We Find There

    Send us Fan Mail Why does one family return to the same small island every summer, and what do they find there? Jim and Meghan step away from their usual guest format to reflect together on nearly two decades of summers in Jamestown, Rhode Island, the place where Meghan grew up and where their family has built a second, deeply rooted community. From an unexpected turn on the altar to conversations that stretch late into the night in a favorite corner of the house they call the cupola, they explore how leaving routine behind draws them closer to each other and to God. It is a conversation about slowing down, showing up in a small parish, and discovering that a place, like a person, can become an unexpected gift. What’s in this episode: The origin story of summering in Rhode Island as a family traditionCommunity as an extension of what it means to be CatholicEncountering God's beauty in nature, from sunsets to ocean wavesJim's unexpected turn as lector the day the bishop visitedGetting out of routine to slow down and rediscover morning prayerMultigenerational memories with great-grandparents, cousins, and familyHow their daughter's first Communion came together at the island parishEvening conversations in "the cupola" as a nightly family ritualWhy family rules and priorities shift when routine is left behind Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    Why Our Family Escapes Every Summer and What We Find There

  6. Jul 28

    Regaining the Peace of the Interior Gaze

    Send us Fan Mail Pope Saint John Paul II once described how Adam and Eve, before the fall, could look at one another with total peace, free of shame or doubt. Jim and Meghan sit down with Catholic evangelist, author, and speaker Tanner Kalina to talk about what it means to reclaim that same peace today. A former actor and comedian who left Hollywood behind, Tanner shares how baseball, acting, and finally Christ became the true search of his heart. With honesty and humor, he opens up about surrender, authenticity, and the daily choice to make God first. What’s in this episode: The meaning behind Tanner's masterclass title, Regaining the Interior GazePope Saint John Paul II's teaching on Adam and Eve's original peaceTanner's journey from baseball and Hollywood to full conversionSaint Augustine's reminder that our hearts are restless until they rest in GodWhy today's youth crave authenticity in a culture of noiseThe origin story behind the Saints Alive podcast on HallowHow saints' stories differ from Hollywood's celebrity narrativesLessons in humility from Tanner's time as an older FOCUS missionaryThe theme of surrender running through Tanner's whole storyAdvice for young Catholics who want to evangelize through new mediaOne resource every Catholic family should know: Ascension PressBook he is currently reading: The Fulfillment of All Desire by Dr. Ralph Martin, his own book All Your Heart, and a novel called LaurusAdvice to his younger self: Do the hard thing and trust the long, slow game; the Lord's goodness will prevailFinal wisdom for listeners: Regaining the peace of the interior gaze is a lifelong process that begins with a firm commitment to the LordResources Mentioned: Saints Alive (podcast on Hallow) – Radio dramas that bring the stories of the saints to life for kids Ascension Press – Faith formation resources and video series for Catholic families Tanner Kalina's website – Personal site with links to his resources, videos, and speaking The Fulfillment of All Desire by Dr. Ralph Martin – A study of the mystics of the Catholic faith All Your Heart by Tanner Kalina – Tanner's own book on how the heart is transformed in Christ Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    Regaining the Peace of the Interior Gaze

  7. Jul 21

    The Power of the Family Board Meeting

    Send us Fan Mail What if the secret to raising a thriving Catholic family looked a lot like running a well-led company? Jim and Meghan sit down with Mike and Alicia Hernon, co-founders of The Messy Family Project, to unpack the Family Board Meeting, a structured practice of stepping back from the daily grind of parenting to intentionally lead as a couple. Drawing on business principles like EOS and Traction, along with decades of raising ten children, Mike and Alicia share how this yearly practice built unity in their marriage and helped form seven adult children who are now faithful, practicing Catholics. With candor and humor, they invite Catholic families to see their homes as the most important work happening in the Church today. What’s in this episode: The origin and purpose behind the Family Board Meeting conceptWhy the meeting belongs to spouses only, not the whole familyThe five steps: assess, envision, define goals, discern, and actLessons borrowed from EOS and the book Traction by Gino WickmanThe greatest fruit: raising evangelizing disciples of ChristPreparing teenagers for the freedom of college and adulthoodWhy unity between spouses matters more than checking off goalsA look inside The Messy Family Project's course and communityOne resource every Catholic family should know: Mike: The Family Board Meeting course and podcast. Alicia: Father John Riccardo's The Rescue Project videos with Acts XXIX.Book they are currently reading: Mike: A collection of fantasy novels by Stephen Lawhead, including one on Byzantium. Alicia: Christy, read with her well read moms group.Advice to their younger selves: Mike: Don't get so stressed trying to get everything right, focus on what matters most. Alicia: Enjoy your children more and don't worry about things that aren't important.Final wisdom for listeners: Mike: Build a rule of life around your identity as a child of God, spouse, and parent. Alicia: Real change starts within you, you are a beloved son or daughter of God.Resources Mentioned: Messy Family Project – Home of the Family Board Meeting course, podcast, and free downloads Father John Riccardo's The Rescue Project – Evangelization videos through Acts XXIX The Chosen by Chaim Potok – A novel on fatherhood and different parenting paths that moved Alicia to tears Ways of Imperfection – A book Alicia calls life changing on being loved by God in imperfection Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead – A novel Mike recently finished, part of his ongoing collection by the author Buy Back Your Time – A business book Mike often returns to Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    The Power of the Family Board Meeting

  8. Jul 14

    The Road to Hope: The Church's Response to the Crisis of Addiction

    Send us Fan Mail Addiction is messy, addiction is sometimes bloody, and it's a place holy people haven't always gone, until now. Jim and Meghan sit down with Keaton Douglas to explore how the Catholic Church can become a true resource for those struggling with addiction and the families who love them. Drawing from her own story of loss, healing, and an unexpected call to ministry, Keaton shares how her book The Road to Hope and new series Unshackled are helping families find their way back to hope. With honesty and deep faith, she reminds listeners that no one is meant to walk the road to recovery alone. What’s in this episode: Keaton's journey from a career on Wall Street to Catholic ministryThe reach of iTHIRST across parishes, prisons, and reservationsThe meaning behind the name iTHIRST and its acronymThe launch of Unshackled, a new series on Shalom World TVInsights from her book The Road to Hope, written with Lindsay SchlegelWhy family members need as much support as their struggling loved oneHow trained spiritual companions walk with families through addictionA mother's story of hope while raising a son battling addictionCatholic in Recovery as a faith-centered community and fellowshipOne resource every Catholic family should know: Catholic in RecoveryBook she is currently reading: The Plantagenets by Dan JonesFavorite book: The Seven Storey Mountain and The Long LonelinessAdvice to her younger self: be unabashed in following the Holy SpiritFinal wisdom for listeners: while there is breath, there is hope Resources Mentioned: iTHIRST Initiative – Training and support for the Church's response to addiction, spanning 47 states and 13 nations  Unshackled – A 12-episode series on addiction and faith streaming on Shalom World TV Catholic in Recovery – A Catholic fellowship and community for those in recovery  The Road to Hope: The Church's Response to the Crisis of Addiction – Book on faith and addiction recovery, co-written with Lindsay Schlegel The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton – A memoir that shaped Keaton's spiritual life The Long Loneliness by Dorothy Day – A memoir that shaped Keaton's spiritual life The Plantagenets  by Dan Jones – A history of the medieval English royal dynasty Looking for meaningful ways to deepen your family’s connection with God outside of Sunday Mass? Download our free guide to discover 10 practical and fun faith-based activities that will bring your family closer to Christ—no matter how busy life gets. From sharing gratitude at the dinner table to watching faith-filled media together, these ideas make living your faith easy and enjoyable.

    The Road to Hope: The Church's Response to the Crisis of Addiction
See All (71)

Trailer

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

Modern Catholic Family empowers families to anchor in the fullness of Catholic living. It is the only platform designed specifically for Catholic families, offering guidance and community that unite the ancient wisdom of the Catholic Church with the dynamic needs of today’s family.

Information

  • Creator
    Jim Schubert
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Modern Catholic Family
  • Show Website
    Modern Catholic Family

You Might Also Like