Terminal Vocation

Mark and Erin Voorheis
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Join hosts Deacon Mark and Erin Voorheis on Terminal Vocation, a practical Catholic marriage podcast for engaged and newly married couples and those navigating the first five years of matrimony. Combining standard textbook tenets of the Catholic faith with relatable, everyday humor, this marriage and family life show dives into the real-world challenges couples face—from money and in-laws to kids and communication. Discover how to lean into sacramental grace, laugh through the mistakes, and embrace holy matrimony as a lifelong, joyful vocation. New episodes weekly!

  1. Jul 31

    Video Killed the Radio Star: Social Media Video Trends for Couples

    Hosts Deacon Mark and Erin introduce this episode on social media trends. Weekly Catch-Up: Erin talks about sixth-grade orientation at school, while Deacon Mark details an adventurous scuba diving trip to the Florida Keys with his son. Mini Topic on Care and "Sunk Costs": Mark recounts a situation from his diving trip involving a couple on the dive boat. The story prompts a conversation about relationship dynamics, prioritizing a partner’s well-being over personal desires or "sunk costs," and making sacrifices for the people you are with. This Just In: The hosts touch on a news article featuring actor Tom Holland reflecting on his early career. They discuss the relatable experience of looking back at past work or early life choices with a mix of embarrassment and growth, drawing parallels to the learning curves of early parenting. Social Media Trends: The core of the episode shifts to analyzing viral relationship-focused social media trends. "Kiss Your Crush" / "Shoot Your Shot" Videos: The hosts discuss the trend of individuals filming themselves taking a sudden romantic leap with a friend or crush. They examine the awkwardness of putting someone on the spot and the ethics of recording private, vulnerable moments for public content."Rage Bait" & Dessert Pranks: The conversation turns to staged or unexpected public pranks—such as a partner opting out of ordering dessert while their significant other orders. They highlight how these trends play on public embarrassment, manipulation, and the potential cruelty of making a partner the punchline for online views.Pranking Within Limits: The hosts contrast public online manipulation with lighthearted, harmless pranks among family members at home, sharing a brief personal anecdote about an April Fool's Day joke.He Won't Let Me Open My Door: The final trend discussed is one where couples film the gentleman not allowing the lady to open her own door, playing on the notion of chivalry to the extreme. Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize the importance of communication, consent, and prioritizing real-life relationships over internet views.

    Video Killed the Radio Star: Social Media Video Trends for Couples

  2. Jul 24

    Learning to Fly: Dating as a Child of Divorce

    In this episode, Deacon Mark and Erin talk about the challenges of dating as an adult child of divorce. 1. Intro & News Banter: Erin discusses a mother-daughter trip to a production of "Drunk Pirates", while Deacon Mark shares news on helping his uncle move into assisted living.This Just In: The hosts briefly discuss the birth of JD and Usha Vance's fourth child and the unique challenges of parenting in the public eye. 2. Catholic Teaching on Marriage & Divorce Deacon Mark reviews church teaching on divorce and annulments.3. Practical Steps for Personal Healing Key Resources: Before serious dating, adult children of divorce are encouraged to find ways to address some of the issues from their experience of divorce including professional therapy, specialized ministries like Life-Giving Wounds, and focused spiritual direction. 4. Navigating Dating as an Adult Child of Divorce Relational Impact: The hosts address the grief of parental divorce, the lack of healthy marriage modeling, and higher statistical risks of divorce, emphasizing that intentional healing allows individuals to build strong, lasting marriages.

    Learning to Fly: Dating as a Child of Divorce

  3. Jul 17

    Our House (is a very very very fine house): How Trinity House Communities Provide a Rule of Life

    Erin and Mark talk about some of their home improvement projects going on this week, including Erin's plans to repaint and Mark moving a couch in the bed of a pickup with questionable tie-down procedures. The conversation then shifts to pop culture and reports from the wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce who each shared 20-minute wedding vows. Mark and Erin agree that vows are meant to be solemn promises rather than extended toasts or odes to the other person. The core focus of the episode is the Trinity House Community, a nonprofit founded by Soren and Ever Johnson. The Trinity House Community has a five-level "blueprint" for families to strive toward. The hosts emphasize that this blueprint is also highly applicable to single individuals working on personal and spiritual development. LEVEL 1: FAITH LIFELEVEL 2: PERSON & RELATIONSHIPSLEVEL 3: HOUSEHOLD ECONOMYLEVEL 4: FAMILY CULTURELEVEL 5: HOSPITALITY & SERVICE

    Our House (is a very very very fine house): How Trinity House Communities Provide a Rule of Life

  4. Jul 10

    Two of Hearts: He Said/She Said - Top 5 Rules for Dating in Your 20’s

    In this episode Mark and Erin give their dueling "Top 5 Rules for Dating." But there’s a twist—neither host shared their list before recording, making for an entirely blind, hot-take-heavy conversation. Before diving into the relationship playbook, the duo catches up on their July 4th weekend and some of the historical 'goings on' in their hometown. In "This Just In" we give our take on how the FIFA's suspension of the suspension is a masterclass of what not to do for parental discipline—explaining why a severe punishment softened is never as effective as a lighter punishment strictly enforced. Finally, the countdown in a "He Said/She Said" format. Notable rules include "He's not a Project" and "Don't be Weird." Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and let us know in the comments: What is your #1 rule for navigating the modern dating world? Links: Pew Research Study on Family Faith Dynamics

    Two of Hearts: He Said/She Said - Top 5 Rules for Dating in Your 20’s

  5. Jul 3

    A Change Is Gonna Come: Postpartum Realities

    Episode Summary: Coming Home & Postpartum Realities In this episode of Terminal Vocation, hosts Deacon Mark and Erin conclude their two-part mini-series. Shifting focus from pre-partum topics, they dive into the joys, anxieties, and practical realities of navigating the postpartum period and bringing a new baby home. Before diving into the main topic, Mark and Erin catch up on their week, which was dominated by the World Cup: Mark and Erin talk about the joy of sports, and ways to make these events more family focused. Tournament Predictions: The hosts compare notes on the soccer knockout rounds, discussing the US team's outlook, Paraguay's dramatic shootout upset against Germany, and their conflicting Final Four predictions. The core discussion kicks off with a look at the immediate hours following delivery, inspired by suggestions from listeners Grace and Chris: A Change in Urgency: Mark and Erin note how the medical atmosphere shifts dramatically when moving from labor and delivery to the postpartum unit. Advocating for Your Child: The hosts emphasize the importance of speaking up, asking questions, and staying vigilant, recalling a stressful hospital incident where a nurse was wearing someone else's security badge. Utilizing Hospital Resources: Because insurance often pushes for a swift discharge, parents are encouraged to take full advantage of on-site resources, such as lactation consultants, to help navigate early feeding challenges. Transitioning from the hospital to the front door brings a mix of magic and sudden panic: The "Now What?" Moment: After the initial beauty of settling into the house wears off, parents are often hit with the sudden realization that they are completely responsible for a newborn human. Dividing and Conquering: The hosts stress the value of establishing a clear nighttime game plan for sleep, feedings, and diaper changes so that both parents aren't unnecessarily exhausted by waking up for every single cry. Managing Parental Anxiety: Erin reflects on the middle-of-the-night worry common to new mothers and the necessity of balancing those anxieties with a partner's need to sleep before going to work. Navigating Paternity Leave: Mark discusses the logistical hurdles of early parenthood during an era when formal paternity leave was not widely available, forcing fathers to rely entirely on accumulated vacation days and visiting family members for support.

    A Change Is Gonna Come: Postpartum Realities

  6. Jun 26

    I Want to Break Free: The Joys and Struggles of Pre-partum

    Pregnancy is a wild nine months and in this episode we break down some of the things to consider as you prepare for the arrival of a child. How to share the news and with whom?Picking a doctorDealing with the physical and emotional changes taking placeNesting and getting readyDelivery Some things mentioned in this episode: Study by Binghamton Univ. on Wordle strategy Article on the risks of hormonal contraceptives Guide for finding an OB who supports NFP

    I Want to Break Free: The Joys and Struggles of Pre-partum

  7. Jun 19

    The Great Divide

    As we conclude our series on the top 5 challenges that couples face we talk about the ways that religion and politics can become divisive within a relationship. Our most tightly held beliefs can often be something we seek to find in common with others, so how do we balance finding agreement on the big issues while still understanding that a 100% perfect match is not always possible. We also talk about the World Cup and how different expectations can make one team fire a coach after a 5-1 loss, while another team celebrates their lone goal while losing 7-1.

    The Great Divide

  8. Jun 12

    Where I Come From

    Continuing our series on the top 5 challenges relationships face we talk about our families of origin and in-laws. How do we handle overcoming some of our 'core memories' and default settings in order to communicate better with each other? How do we distinguish between extended families who are involved vs. intruding? What to do to grow in our love for these people? We also talk about dealing with kids when they don't want to learn or do something new and how to deal with comments like "This is Stupid!" - Comedian and Art Heist

    Where I Come From
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About

Join hosts Deacon Mark and Erin Voorheis on Terminal Vocation, a practical Catholic marriage podcast for engaged and newly married couples and those navigating the first five years of matrimony. Combining standard textbook tenets of the Catholic faith with relatable, everyday humor, this marriage and family life show dives into the real-world challenges couples face—from money and in-laws to kids and communication. Discover how to lean into sacramental grace, laugh through the mistakes, and embrace holy matrimony as a lifelong, joyful vocation. New episodes weekly!

Information

  • Creator
    Mark and Erin Voorheis
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mark and Erin Voorheis
  • Show Website
    Terminal Vocation

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