Shows
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 353: Why are Kids so Anxious?Summary Why are today's kids more anxious than ever before? Mike and Alicia dive into the growing epidemic of anxiety among children and teens – and how modern parenting, technology, and culture all play a role. Drawing insights from Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation, they explore what happens when we overprotect kids in the real world but underprotect them online. From overscheduled lives and endless screen time to lack of sleep, nutrition, and authentic relationships, today's children are under tremendous pressure. But there's hope. The Hernons share concrete, faith-filled ways parents can lead with confidence, slow do...
2025-10-1359 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 349: Why Have Kids? an Interview with the author of Hannah's Children"I think that bringing children into the world is like bringing holiness into the world." - Catherine Pakaluk Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia sit down with Catherine Pakaluk, economist and author of Hannah's Children, to challenge common cultural myths about large families. Secular researchers often assume religious women have many children because they are oppressed, but Catherine explains why this is far from true. Instead, faith gives parents the conviction that children are a blessing and the true good of marriage. Struggles, dysfunction, or finances exist in every family, regardless of s...
2025-09-1558 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 348: Field of Dreams for FamiliesSummary Every family inherits a legacy, both the blessings and the struggles, yet God calls us to build something new with Him. In this episode, Mike and Alicia reflect on the importance of having a dream for your family that goes beyond survival mode and day-to-day busyness. Drawing inspiration from the film Field of Dreams, they explore how couples can discern God's vision for their home, create a legacy of love, and take bold, countercultural steps together. Whether you're just starting out or sending kids off to college, this conversation will encourage you to pray, dream, and...
2025-09-0850 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 347 Families Under Fire - Facing Cultural ChallengesThe family is where children discover how to be human. - Archbishop Charles Chaput Summary In this episode, Mike and Alicia tackle some of the toughest family challenges with honesty, humor, and hope. These questions were submitted to us at the Midwest Family Conference, but we never got to them! We talk about things like how to respond to a loved one with a temper or a dysfunctional family that seems to fight constantly. What practical steps can parents take to guard their family culture when outside influences pull in the op...
2025-08-2557 min
Smuggling HopeThe Best Gift For Your Kids: Your Marriage, A Conversation With Mike and Alicia HernonIn this episode, Dan speaks with Mike and Alicia Hernon of the Messy Family Project, about the challenges and joys of family life, the importance of encouragement for parents, and the foundational elements of a strong family. They discuss the necessity of prioritizing marriage, the role of community, and the transformative power of getaways for couples. The conversation emphasizes the need for intentionality in relationships and the impact of a healthy marriage on children.Couples Getaway-Travel with Mike and Alicia to Austria or Bahamas! Sign up here! Start Healing Your Marriage and Family...
2025-06-2557 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 336: What Would You Say to Your Younger Self? An Interview with Suzanne BilodeauGod has selected you uniquely to be the mother for these children. He will equip you for the work He wants you to do! Summary No one feels prepared to be a parent. Even if you were one of the oldest of 10 kids in a Catholic family (like Alicia or Katie) or a family of 7 (like Suzanne) you can never really be ready! The key to surviving, and even thriving, is stepping fully into your identity as a daughter of God. All the love that we have for our spouse and children needs to come from...
2025-06-0958 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 328: Let Your Life Be a Witness, An interview with Chris and Molly McMahon"Never be embarrassed to love your wife." – Chris McMahon Summary What does it take to build a thriving business and a strong marriage at the same time? In this episode, Mike sits down with longtime friends Chris and Molly McMahon—financial advisors, founders, parents of five, and marriage warriors. Together, they unpack the real story behind balancing ambition with family, building a faith-filled home without a perfect blueprint, and making decisions that prioritize your marriage even when the world says otherwise. From the mess of early parenthood and maxed-out credit cards to spir...
2025-04-1456 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 322: Dealing with Mouthy TeensA problem with disrespect from a child always goes back to a dysfunction in the parent-child relationship. Summary When our sweet children enter the teen years and adolescence is upon them, something happens that tends to cause parents stress and dismay - back talk and disrespect. Some of this is immaturity on the part of the child and some is simply lack of training in relationships. It is our job as parents to teach our children how to express their feelings, disagree, and even debate while maintaining an attitude of respect towards us and...
2025-02-241h 04Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP321: Fifty Years and Going Strong!A husband and wife may disagree on many things, but they must absolutely agree on this: to never, ever give up. Summary When we did our listener survey, you asked for interviews of regular families who have raised children through to adulthood with grace and courage. Well, we have a treat for you! A few years ago we met Brian and Joanna Simpson of London ONT who have run the Family Foundations Institute for the past 25 years. They also have 9 children and over 35 grandchildren and they are a witness to the goodness of God d...
2025-02-1759 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 320: Super Habits for the FamilySummary Have you ever wanted to stop yelling at your kids? Be more courteous to your spouse? Or be more orderly at home? Enter Super Habits! These are not just new things for you to learn to do, these are life-changing actions that will make you happier, healthier and more successful in many areas. In this interview, we spoke to Dr. Andrew Abela, author of the book Super Habits and his wife Kathleen who explained to us how to apply this book to family life. They gave us some great insights and showed us how Super Habits can be...
2025-02-101h 15Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 319: How Husbands LeadFathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Eph 6:4 In this episode of the Messy Family Podcast, hosts Mike and Alicia Hernon celebrate their 10th year of the podcast and introduce the new studio, setting the stage for a discussion on fatherhood and leadership in the home. They emphasize that while fathers are called by God to lead, many struggle to understand what that truly means in a world that often undermines their role. True leadership is not about domination but about serving, sacrificing, and...
2025-02-0349 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 318: Families as MissionariesFamilies don't just have a mission, they ARE a mission! Summary When we hear "missionary" many of us automatically think of a single person serving in a third world country. Then we think, "not me!" But the reality is that all Catholics are called by their baptism to spread the good news of Jesus throughout the world. We do that first and foremost in our homes, through the pastoral care of our spouse and children, but there are other ways we can spread the Good News to the world. In this podcast, we inter...
2025-01-271h 20Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 317: Who are These Messy Families? 2024 Survey SummarySummary Since 2018 we have been doing surveys of our listeners to find out who you are, how we can serve you more, and what your needs are. We have never shared this information with our listeners until now! Over the years we have had thousands of listeners take this survey and it's interesting to see what has remained the same and what has changed. We thought it would be encouraging to you to hear that you are not alone! The struggles that you have told us about are shared by other moms and dads too. Listen in as we...
2025-01-2041 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 316: A Manual for Catholic Families"Catholic parenting is above all a work of grace" - Fr. Carter Griffin We often say there is no manual for being a parent, but this book comes pretty close! In this podcast, we interview the author of Forming Families, Forming Saints Fr. Carter Griffin. Fr. Griffin has worked for years forming young men into priests in the seminary setting. In doing so, he saw many similarities between what he was doing with young men and what parents were doing at home. The four pillars of formation in the seminary - human, intellectual, spiritual, and apostolic - can...
2025-01-1359 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 315: 10 Things to Stop Doing in 2025At the beginning of 2025 we want to challenge parents to step back and reassess their approach to family life by diving into 10 Things to Stop Doing in 2025. Are you focusing too much on your kids? Caught up in the frantic pace of life? Trying to "fix" your spouse or juggle it all? Let us give you some heartfelt encouragement to let go of habits that create stress, disconnection, and overwhelm. We guarantee this episode is packed with insights that will inspire you to parent with purpose and peace. Let's start the year by simplifying, slowing down, and focusing on w...
2025-01-0752 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 314: Seasons of Prayer for Parents"Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean do not be disheartened by your imperfections, but always rise up with fresh courage" - St. Francis deSales Summary What God asks of us as parents is beyond our ability. We are all in need of God's grace and that comes through prayer! Now, before you think, "I do not have time for prayer…." take a pause and listen to this episode. First, remember, we have been there! We had 3 kids under 3, 7 kids under 10 and then 10 under 16! We know that the crazy pace o...
2024-12-1658 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 313: Surviving the Holidays with GraceKids will not always remember what you say, they will remember how they felt. Summary We have talked about the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's being the "Momolympics", a time when there are tons of things to buy, make, prepare, plan, and basically the happiness of your children all depends on you (at least we feel that way!) How can parents embrace the holidays with children with grace and excitement? How can we keep in mind what is truly important for our family? In this episode we give some principles, but also LOTS...
2024-12-0953 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 312: The Well Ordered FamilyGraces can flow into your home when nature is in its proper place. - Connor Gallagher, The Well-Ordered Family Summary Do you yearn for more order and clarity within your family? Is the chaos and busyness of modern life unsettling the harmony of your household? In this podcast, we interview Conor Gallagher, CEO of multiple businesses and father of sixteen, to talk to him about a transformative system that will restore peace and joy in your household. We love using business principles to improve family life, and in the Well-Ordered Family, Conor does jus...
2024-12-021h 12Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 311: Family Roots - Mike's Irish ExperienceIn this episode, we dive into the beauty and power of family history. Mike shares the incredible story of his journey to Ireland—a dream rooted in a deep love for his heritage and a promise to pass it on to his children. From the ruins of his grandfather's cottage to the windswept cliffs of the Aran Islands, the trip becomes a testament to the importance of staying connected to the past while building a legacy for the future. As we reflect on the stories of those who came before us, we're reminded of the sacrifices and st...
2024-11-2543 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 310: Marriage, Teamwork, and Business - an interview with Dan and Brenda Vansteenburg"Guided and strengthened by God's grace, husband and wife advance their own perfection… and contribute jointly to the glory of God" ~ Gaudium et Spes Summary You should never marry someone with the idea that you can change them, but we do need to help our spouses become the best version of themselves. We all should have a vision, a belief that our spouse can be amazing and then work with them for their good. In this podcast, we hear the inspiring story of Dan and Brenda - a couple from two different families, faith...
2024-11-181h 04Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 309: How Busy is Too Busy?Show me your checkbook and your datebook and I will show you what you value Summary So much of what we talk about on this podcast really hits home when it comes to how we spend our time. Family dinner, date nights, prayer time, even mass comes down to making time to do it. Four things determine how we run our lives and our family - talent, money, energy and time. Every one has different amounts of energy and talent and money, but we all have the same amount of time! How we use...
2024-11-1152 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 308: The Power of Asking for Forgiveness"Genuine humility never disturbs the soul. Rather it is accompanied by peace, joy and calm" St. Theresa of Avila Summary What is the biggest problem in Catholic marriages? Although we appreciate good communication tools, marriage insights, and mentors - at the end of the day the biggest problem is simply a lack of holiness. One essential tool in our quest for holiness is learning how to ask for forgiveness. When we have conflict in our home, we all need to ask ourselves the question - what could I have done differently? When we take o...
2024-11-0453 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 307: Navigating Family Life Challenges: Q&A with Real-Life Struggles and Faith-Filled SolutionsIn this special Q&A episode, we dive into some of the most heartfelt questions from our listeners. From the complex question of whether to expand the family to grappling with grief, boundaries in marriage, and integrating elderly parents into a household, these issues strike at the core of family life. We also tackle how to balance the call to evangelize in a world that often conflicts with our values—especially when raising children in today's cultural climate. Join us as we explore these tough topics with compassion, real-life insights, and guidance for finding peace, strength, and unity in fa...
2024-10-281h 01Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 306: What Teens/Tweens Really Need with Mark Hart"It's important that we remember to talk 'to' our kids, not 'at' them" - Mark Hart Summary Parents are rightly concerned today about the influence of the culture on their teens. As much as we would like to put our kids in a teflon bubble to shield them from the false fake culture of the world, it is just not possible! What do our kids need from us to prepare them for life? Join us in this podcast for a conversation with Mark Hart of Lifeteen - a speaker, author, and parent himself of teens and...
2024-10-2157 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 305: Should You Correct Your Spouse?It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than in a mansion with a quarrelsome wife. Proverbs 25:24 Summary All of us do things that annoy our spouse. Occasionally, we do things that hurt our spouse and vice versa. How do we communicate about these situations? Is it effective to tell them what they have done wrong? Is that what the scriptures tell us to do? In this episode, we discuss what it means to take "extreme ownership" of our own actions and emotions before trying to "fix" your spouse...
2024-10-1451 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 304: Enjoying your Toddler "You can learn many things from toddlers! For example, how much patience you actually have." -Anonymous One blessing of having ten kids is that we have matured and learned enough about kids to appreciate the toddler years of children #9 and 10 much more than those years with children #1 and 2. Our advice to parents of toddlers is to start by enjoying them! It's hard to do when they are destroying your house and embarrassing you in public, but with a few strategies and consistency on your part, you can begin to see that this little bundle of c...
2024-10-0751 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 303: How to Parent Like a Catholic Pt. 2Other Resources Welcome His Heart: https://welcomehisheart.com/ MFP 165: Forgiveness Brings Freedom and Transformation Videos - Evangelizing Your Kids and Forgiveness in the Family https://messyfamilyproject.org/course/pizza-and-parenting/watch/ Key Takeaways Parents must be very intentional about evangelizing their children and bringing them into a relationship with Christ. Marriage is a sacrament of service to the world. Our marriages are not just for us, they are an office of service. Every mother and father is to act as "priests of the...
2024-09-3059 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 302: A Parent's Guide to Temperaments"You and your spouse are a team that GOD wants together!" - Art and LaraineBennett Summary The first step in creating a dynamic family is to know the people who are in it! That starts with knowing yourself, then your spouse, and then your children. One of the tools that we love using for this knowledge is the classic four temperaments - choleric, sanguine, melancholic, and phlegmatic. The leading Catholic authors on the temperaments are Art and Laraine Bennett, authors of the book The Temperament God Gave You and many other great resources! In t...
2024-09-231h 26Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 301: How to Parent Like a CatholicYour authority in the family does not come from perfection, it comes as a grace from your parenthood. Summary There are two kinds of families - those that are frantic and those that are fruitful. As Catholics we have an incredible grace to be fruitful families, but often our families don't look much different than the secular, frantic families around us! How can we live family life differently? There are so many different parenting philosophies out there. Which ones should Catholics follow? In this podcast, we give an overview of The Catholic Parenting Cours...
2024-09-1659 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 300: Loving with Boundaries: Navigating Tough Parenting Decisions & FriendshipsSummary: In this episode, we explore several listener's questions about how to manage friendships when personal values differ, particularly in situations where children are involved. Mike and Alicia are joined by their daughter, Katie to dive into the challenge of maintaining friendships with those whose lifestyle choices may conflict with Catholic teaching, while still modeling love and compassion for others. The conversation focuses on how to love the person, hold true to your beliefs, and balance protecting your family's moral development. Couple Discussion Questions: How can you love friends or family members who h...
2024-09-091h 06Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 299: Beauty, art, imagination and your kids with Andrew PetersonBeauty resets our compass. It reminds us of who we are and what we are made for. ~ Andrew Peterson Summary Our children will grow no matter what, but how they grow and what they learn is heavily dependent on their environment. Parents can shape the world of their children to include beauty, freedom of artistic expression, and space to wonder. In this podcast, we talk to Andrew Peterson, singer, songwriter, author, father and now grandfather. Over the last 25 years, Andrew has used his creative talents in the world of music and fantasy books for k...
2024-09-0258 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 298: How to Really Love Your Teenager"21% of teens said their #1 concern was not having enough time with their parents. Only 8% of parents said their #1 concern was not having enough time with their kids." ― Meg Meeker Summary After 13 years of marriage we had six children and were pretty confident in our parenting. But when our oldest daughter became a teenager, we felt like we needed to learn how to parent all over again! This sweet 12 year old seemed to begin changing before our eyes and we had to pivot pretty quickly to learn what it was that she needed and what...
2024-08-261h 02Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 297: Expectations in MarriageHappiness is determined by our expectations…. If our expectations are modest… we will be happy; if our expectations are unrealistic, we end up disappointed. ~Bishop Anthony Taylor, Diocese of Little Rock Summary All of us come into our vocations with expectations. We have dreams and plans, but expectations are more like assumptions. We have our own experience and we expect that things will go a certain way. The problem is, we can't always articulate these expectations or even realize that we have them until they are unfulfilled and this can cause conflict with our spouses...
2024-08-1956 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 296: Talking to Your Kids About Sex - an Interview with Jason EvertThe body is not meaningless, but meaningful - Jason Evert Summary Join us for this insightful conversation with Jason Evert, speaker and author. Jason has spoken all over the world and has created numerous resources for preteens and teens to dive deep into what it means to be free to love. Often parents feel under-equipped to talk about sex and chastity, but it is within the home that these lessons need to be learned and it is where they are taught most effectively. The first step is to communicate to your children how muc...
2024-08-1245 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP295: The Key to Your Child's Success"Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit" Proverbs 25:28 Summary: Have you ever had a child melt down because they didn't get what they wanted? How do we respond to emotional outbursts in our children? Self-control is an underappreciated virtue in our modern culture, but ironically, it is the one skill we can teach our children that can help them achieve great success. Instead of embracing the maxim of today, "Just do it!" we should be echoing the slogan of the 80's...
2024-08-0554 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 294: Building Families That Last: Insights from the National Eucharistic Congress | Messy Family PodcastJoin us for a special episode of the Messy Family Podcast, recorded live at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis! In this episode, Mike hosts a lively discussion on the joys and challenges of family life. Mike, who flew in from Ireland, shares his family traditions and reflections on building a lasting legacy. Plus, special guests Ennie and Cana Hickman talk about their journey of raising nine children, balancing ministry and marriage, and the importance of regular date nights. Whether you're a longtime listener or new to the show, this episode offers heartfelt stories and practical advice for...
2024-07-2958 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 293: What To Do When Your Kids LieParent's reaction to their children is more important than any consequence that they may give. It is our reaction that teaches our children. Summary One of the trickiest things for a parent is when they catch their child in a lie. Do you punish them for lying? Do you punish the offense? How do you teach the virtue of honesty when lying seems to come so naturally to them? Join in our conversation with Jordan Langdon of Families of Character, a ministry that coaches parents to be their best for their families. In this di...
2024-07-221h 02Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 292: Managing Kids ActivitiesPlay is the work of childhood. Summary It seems like in today's world, parents are judged by how many activities their kids are in and how committed the whole family is to those activities. We see this as leading to complete burnout for parents, but more importantly, it robs children of the joy of unsupervised, spontaneous time to just play. We explain in this podcast what play is and why it is so important for children to engage in. The beautiful thing about play is that parents should NOT be involved! It is one thing that...
2024-07-151h 16Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 291: Finding the Lord in OthersGrowing in holiness doesn't require extraordinary actions, it requires doing ordinary things with great love. And there is nothing more "ordinary" in the life of a child than a parent. Summary Often when people talk about life with children, the focus is on just getting through their childhood with your sanity in one piece! There is some truth to that because parenting can be the most challenging thing you may ever do, but we would like to offer a different perspective. What if we did allow family life to change us? What if we a...
2024-07-0855 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 290: Creating a United Front for Your Kids - Parenting as a TeamThe greatest and most important collaboration you will ever have with another person is raising a child with your spouse. Summary Parents come to us with discipline issues all the time and our first question is usually, "What does your spouse think about this?" You see, the most important person to learn from is the other parent of this child you are trying to raise! It is when moms and dads work together that the greatest power is unleashed in parenting and that is when we can do the most good for our chi...
2024-06-2448 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 289: Fr. Mike Schmitz on Parenting and MarriageParenting isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about showing up over and over again no matter what. Summary Some may question how a celibate man could have wisdom for husbands and wives, let alone parents. But in this interview with Fr. Mike Schmitz, host of the Bible in a Year podcast, we think everyone will agree that his insights are awesome! Drawing from his own family experience as well as his role as a spiritual father, Fr. Mike shares with us how to love children who have fallen away from the church, the importance of your...
2024-06-171h 06Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 288: Sisterhood - an interview with the Doman WomenOur parents made us sisters, but God made us friends. Summary One of the greatest blessings of Alicia's life is that God gave her 9 brothers and sisters to laugh, play, fight, create, and pray with most of her life! This conversation is from a girls getaway weekend with the five Doman sisters. Now, because all the Doman siblings are practicing Catholics in good relationship with each other and their parents, people may put them in a category of "the perfect Catholic family". But that is far from true. As you will hear, each one of...
2024-06-1048 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 278: Conversations with KidsSummary In this episode, Mike and Alicia Hernon explore the transformative impact of conversations with children. They emphasize the importance of fostering a family culture centered around meaningful dialogue. From toddlers to teens, discover practical strategies for nurturing curiosity, understanding, and mutual respect within the parent-child relationship. Don't miss out on this engaging discussion that highlights the profound influence of conversations in shaping both children and parents alike. For more information on this and other topics visit: https://www.messyfamilyproject.org/ Key Takeaways Conversations form your children, but more importantly, i...
2024-03-251h 15Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 275: Where do Bishops Come From? An interview with Bishop Joseph CoffeyJoin Mike and Alicia Hernon on this enlightening episode of the Messy Family Podcast as they sit down for an insightful interview with Bishop Joseph Coffey of the Archdiocese of the Military (United States). Together, they explore the intriguing question, "Where do Bishops Come From?" and delve into Bishop Coffey's personal journey of faith, discernment, and leadership within the Catholic Church. With candor and wisdom, Bishop Coffey shares his unique perspective on the role of bishops in today's world and offers valuable insights into the formation and responsibilities of these spiritual leaders. From his early experiences in...
2024-03-0449 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 274: Leaving a Legacy of FaithIn this faith-filled episode of the Messy Family Podcast, Mike and Alicia discuss discuss the significance of authenticity, the power of family traditions, and the impact of a vibrant faith community. Whether you're a seasoned parent or just starting your family journey, this episode promises valuable insights and practical tools for nurturing a legacy of faith that will endure for generations to come. Tune in to the Messy Family Project podcast today and discover how to build a legacy of faith that withstands the test of time. Don't miss out on this inspiring conversation that will empower...
2024-02-261h 02Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 272: Disciplining Children without ShameFor a child to learn how to love, they need to first be loved. So many people find disciplining their children to be one of the biggest challenges of being a parent. We look back to the way our parents raised us and often we realize that we want to do things differently, but we just don't know how. Without a new perspective, many times we just fall back on what we experienced as a child and we react from our own woundedness or our own view of what a father or mother should be. In this epis...
2024-02-0556 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 270: Do Catholic Wives Have to Obey their Husbands?In this episode, Mike and Alicia keep diving into the complex relationship of man and woman in marriage. It is vitally important that we keep in mind that we need to act according to our nature to have a successful, peaceful marriage! Part of this is realizing that there is a dance that happens between spouses - that is the giving and receiving. So what some fundamentalists may call "headship" we would say this is really men giving to their wives and families because this is what enables them to receive. What others may call "submission" we would say...
2024-01-2246 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 269: Headship - Navigating the Beautiful Chaos of MarriageJoin Mike and Alicia Hernon on another insightful episode of The Messy Family Podcast, where they fearlessly delve into the timeless and relevant topic of headship in marriage in reference to the key passages in Ephesians 5. In this episode, the Hernons share the behind-the-scenes of their podcast and video show on YouTube, inviting you to subscribe and become a valuable member of their growing community. They take you on a journey through recent family events, from unexpected hospital visits to the joyous arrival of their seventh grandchild, Declan John. Amidst the chaos, the Hernons ask f...
2024-01-1542 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyAngels Watching Over Us with Fr. Wolfgang Seitz🎙️ Dive into a captivating episode of the Messy Family Podcast with Mike and Alicia Hernon! In this edition, titled "Angels Watching Over Us with Fr. Wolfgang Seitz," we explore the fascinating realm of guardian angels and the divine assistance that surrounds our lives. 🌟 Join Mike and Alicia as they welcome Father Wolfgang Seitz from the Order of Canons Regular of the Holy Cross, an expert on the Holy Angels. Fr. Wolfgang shares insights into the deep devotion his order has for the angels and provides a unique perspective on the vital role they play in our lives. 👼D...
2024-01-081h 02
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 263: A Wise Parent's Approach to Tantrums"The idea that the family is a democracy and that children and parents have the same responsibility within the home completely ignores the developmental needs of the child " - Mike and Alicia A child's temper tantrums are frustrating to parents, but we should recognize that they are often a result of a child's deficit in communication, understanding, and emotional control. Children simply have immature responses to situations of conflict. Knowing this may help, but parents also need strategies to get through these tricky, volatile, and potentially embarrassing situations. In this podcast, we get practical and give parents the F...
2023-11-131h 01
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 262: Men, Women, and Marriage"You are called to have great hearts here, counter-cultural and brave. You can build something better, freer, more generous, and nobler, beginning in your own home." - Bishop Thomas Olmstead, Complete My Joy 59 Man and woman coming together to build a home is a natural experience that has happened over and over again since the creation of the world, but we need to keep learning about what marriage is for and how to nourish this essential communion. In this interview with Mike and Sharon Phelan we discuss how marriage can be transformational in the lives of men an...
2023-11-0657 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 261: When Should Teens Date? Lessons Learned"An important element in forming Christian maturity in teens is creating a 'Yes' culture in the home, where a child can take risks, try new things, and find out more about who they are all while under your guidance." - Mike and Alicia With the advent of the sexual revolution in the 60s and 70s and the subsequent increase in teen sexual activity, the response of the Christian community in the 80s and 90s was to make dating among conservative Christian teens verboten. Among many good Catholic families, there is still a wide range of opinions on w...
2023-10-301h 04
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 256: Growing Your Family Culture - Questions AnsweredWe need to take a sacramental view of ordinary life - Mike and Alicia Hernon We often say that family culture is the secret weapon of Catholic families. Why is this? Because the culture within your home is more powerful than any written word. It communicates expectations, beliefs, and values to everyone in the family. In this podcast, we tackle some questions that listeners have sent into us about the culture within their homes. We answer questions like "what do I do about kids always fighting?", "how do I take care of individual kids in a big fami...
2023-09-251h 14
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 253: Mentoring Mothers - Mom of Ten Tells All!Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. - Proverbs 31:30 Back by popular demand, this is another interview that we did with Michele Doman, Alicia's mom and mother of 10 grown children, grandmother to over 55, and great grandmother to more than 7! In the last interview, we talked about Michele's life as a young wife and mother. In this conversation, we talk more about being a parent of a large family and how she was able to do that successfully over the last 50+ years of marriage. Listen in and get...
2023-09-0442 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 252: Managing Relationships - Your Questions Answered!Of course your children don't get along. They don't know how to get along! That's kind of what you are doing as parents, teaching them what they don't know - Mike and Alicia All of us struggle to live in a community. That is the human condition - we need other people but we also find it hard to live with them! This is true for children, but also for adults. In this episode, we answer some questions that our listeners had about what to do when your kids fight with your friends' kids, how to handle di...
2023-08-2840 min
Catholic-Link PodcastFamily Board Meeting with Mike and Alicia HernonMike and Alicia Hernon from the Messy Family Project discuss with Drew and Katie Taylor the details of Catholic family life! The Family Board Meeting not only helps Catholic Couples learn how to create a family mission statement, they intentionally create a Catholic Family Culture! Mike and Alicia Hernon provide incredible resources, especially the Messy Family Podcast! They are passionate about helping Catholic families live out the Catholic marriage and family life in all its glory and messiness.
They provide practical Catholic parenting advice and Catholic Marriage advice. However, they believe each family has a unique and...
2023-08-1600 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 250: Catholic Manhood and Brotherhood"Christian brotherhood is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate." ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer God did not create man in isolation, He created man to live in community with others. This is the best path for the full development of the human person! Men need other men to push them, support them, love them, and let them know they have what it takes. In this touching interview, Mike talks to John Doman, Alicia's dad, about his experience as a young Marine in Viet Nam and t...
2023-08-1438 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 248: You Need a Family Retreat"When an army retreats on the battlefield, it doesn't mean that they are giving up. It can mean that they are taking time to reassess and regroup so they can come back stronger. This is the essence of a Family Retreat." ~ Mike Hernon The concept of a family retreat is something that we have developed over the years for our own family. It grew out of our desire to regroup and reconnect with our kids outside of the daily chaos in our home. To do this, we have taken our children to vacation homes, retreat houses, and oc...
2023-07-3147 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 239: Getting Kids to ObeyTo become a better parent, I need to become a better person ~ Mike and Alicia One of the subjects we are most often asked about is discipline. We know how hard it is to form the will, heart and mind of a child! Though every child is different and every parent is different, there are some principles that we can give you to help you make a discipline plan that works for you and your spouse. In this episode, we start with the foundational points.. First, we need to get our hearts right and recognize why we are...
2023-05-2252 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 233: Getting on the Same Page"Its better to be wrong together than right alone" - Mike and Alicia There are many things that spouses need to navigate in life - finances, educational choices, work issues, in-laws - and for all of these issues there is an "X factor" that makes all the difference - UNITY. Without unity, even the most perfect of scenarios will not bring peace, but with unity there is nothing that life throws at a couple that they will not be able to handle. The question is, how do you forge that unity with each other when you...
2023-04-1043 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 232: Dreaming vs. Fantasizing"Dream big, plan simple, act now." - Mike and Alicia Hernon Dreaming is an integral part of living a life to the fullest. But dreams that take us away from our vocation are fantasies and actually detract from living an abundant life. What is the difference and why is it important? Dreaming in the best sense is an essential skill to have. Not everyone is a natural dreamer, but we can all learn to be! In this podcast, we discuss having a Growth mindset versus a Fixed mindset and how that affects our family life. We also giv...
2023-04-0345 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 228: Educational ChoicesSince parents have given children their life, they are bound by the most solemn obligation to educate their offspring and therefore must be recognized as the primary and principal educators. This role in education is so important that only with difficulty can it be supplied where it is lacking. ~ Pope Paul VI, Declaration of Christian Education Educating children is one of the most important and daunting tasks parents must face. For some parents who have good resources at their disposal, the choice may be easy. For other parents, the choice is agonizing - charter school, Catholic school, hom...
2023-03-0652 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 221: Just a Kid in a Big Family"The sacrifices our parents made to give us brothers and sisters is one of the greatest things they have done for us." - Mike and Alicia Hernon We usually talk about family life from the perspective of parents. But for this podcast, we are going to take some time to talk about what it was like growing up in a family of 6 for Mike and a family of 10 for Alicia. We didn't realize it as kids, but our parents' lives were really hard and they made a lot of sacrifices having the large families that they had. We...
2023-01-1059 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 219: The Curious PodcastIf curiosity is a trait that can lead to the development of healthier, deeper, and more intimate relationships, then it could be another vital feature of the life of the child. - Maggie Hernon Did this title cause you to look? Do you wonder what it is about? Is it causing you to click to listen? That is because you are curious and that is a good thing! Curiosity is something we should all be encouraging in our children and there are numerous benefits. People who are curious have better mental health, are more successful in life and...
2022-12-1958 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 208: Forming Missionaries - Some Great Craic!"We are witnesses to what the Lord Jesus has done in our lives." ~ Tony Foy, Executive Director of NET Ministries Ireland Many of you may have picked up that Mike is pretty proud of his Irish heritage. We had a daughter who wanted to be an international missionary at 18 and Mike was hesitant until she said she wanted to be part of NET Ireland. That was a quick sell! NET is an organization that forms missionaries to evangelize junior high and high school students all over the world. Tony Foy and his wife Sheena have been running NET...
2022-09-2658 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 206: Why Romance is Essential"If you want to be a great parent, you need to be an amazing spouse" ~Mike and Alicia Hernon Often romance is associated with shallow, fleeting feelings, but really, the romance that we share without spouses is a powerful example to our children of the exclusive intimate relationship that only spouses are to enjoy. A kiss in the kitchen or an embrace in front of your children is not only to make them say, "Dad! Mom! Ewww!" but it is to show them the way they are called to love. It is this intimate exclusive love that is t...
2022-09-1257 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 198: Ask Mike and Alicia - Spiritual Leadership, Surprise Pregnancies, and Gender ConfusionWe love it when our listeners dictate what we talk about! In this episode we tackle some great email questions and voice memos that parents have sent us. A mom asks if its ok that her 2 yr old is wearing his sister's dress up clothes and another mom is overwhelmed at another child on the way. Does this make her not "open to life" or a bad Catholic? We also had a wife share with us her heartache at her husband's lack of faith in the home. How can she honor the Lord and honor her husband at the same...
2022-07-111h 04Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 196: Ask Mike and Alicia - Sleep, Hazards of Big Families, and Family Fun"You know what my bedtime routine was when I was a kid? Darkness!" ~ Jerry Seinfeld We love our listeners. And we love answering their questions! In this episode, we are joined by our Program Coordinator, Katie (Hernon) Gamboa who represents the "every-mom" and gives us some great topics to talk about. The first issue we tackle is sleep! Since few young parents ever get enough of it, we help out by giving some tips and tricks as well as perspective. One of us is good at getting kids to lay down and one is not. We explain how th...
2022-06-2748 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 194: A Mother's Tale: Finding Freedom from Depression and AnxietyAnxiety results from assuming responsibility that God never intended. I need to play the part God meant for me. ~ Michele Doman This is a very special podcast that takes you behind the origins of the Messy Family Project. Many of the ideas, philosophies, and lessons that we teach come from the wisdom of the Church, and also from wisdom we have gained from others. This show is an interview that Alicia did with her mom, Michele Doman, who taught her much of what she knows about parenting! Michele shares some of her story growing up in Manhattan, NYC, living through the...
2022-06-131h 09Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP186 : The Role of a Catholic HusbandHost Hijack!! Alicia's brother Paul joins Mike for some manly conversation (but don't worry, Alicia jumps in at the end!) This conversation will be helpful to anyone who is looking to have a great marriage - whether you are a husband or wife. It's clear that there are many roles that men play in our world, some big and some small, but no other role comes close to the significance of being a good husband. Instead of just talking theory, Mike and special guest Paul Doman discuss very real ways that husbands can and must love, serve, protect and lea...
2022-04-181h 27Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 185: "I Will Survive!" Life with Toddlers and Infants"Without ideals we are aimless, but never let ideals eclipse the reality of our situation" ~ Mike and Alicia Hernon Living life with infants and toddlers is no joke. And the more you have the crazier your life is! We all know life is more than survival, but there were plenty of times that all Alicia could think when she woke up was "I just have to make it till nap time". In this MFP classic episode which first aired in 2015, we talk about living life with kids under 5 without losing your mind. We give some practical tips for managing you...
2022-04-1139 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 180: Monks, Parents and PrayerLent is a great time to take inventory of our spiritual life and ask ourselves, "How am I doing in my relationship with God?" To help us all do that, we decided to interview Mike's spiritual director of many years, Fr. Boniface Hicks. Fr. Boniface is a director of directors! A Benedictine monk, he runs the Institute for Ministry Formation at St. Vincent Archabbey and is the author of several books on spirituality. But more important than that, he is a spiritual father giving guidance, encouragement, and sharing the Father's love to many people around the country and even the worl...
2022-02-241h 19
The Catholic Money Show from WalletWin#131 Creating a Family Culture ft. Mike and Alicia HernonHow do families respond to today's culture? How can we ensure that our children turn out okay?
In today's episode, the Teixeiras sit down with Mike and Alicia Hernon, founders of the Messy Family Project to chat about creating a strong, authentic family culture.
Learn more about the Messy Family Project at messyfamilyproject.org.
Join Mike and Alicia for the Family Board Meeting Webinar and Workshop!
Join us for "How to Win With Money Without Losing Your Soul" on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30pm Central.
Register at walletwin...
2022-02-0851 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 175: It's All Worth It! an Interview with the Hernon KidsHaving all our adult children along with our grandchildren at our house over the holidays reminded us that all the sacrifices we have made over the years (and continue to make!) are all worth it. We thought our listeners would enjoy hearing from our kids' perspective what worked for them and what didn't, what we taught them intentionally or unintentionally, and how these lessons affect them now as adults. We tell parents all the time that is so important to imagine what you want your kids to look like when they are adults, and we have tried to live th...
2022-01-121h 05Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 172: The Bible & Your Family with Jeff & Emily CavinsJeff Cavins is the author is the Bible Timeline, the tool behind the hit podcast "The Bible in a Year" with Fr. Mike Schmitz. Jeff and his wife Emily have studied, taught, and led thousands of people into a deeper relationship with the Word of God through their books, talks, and guided tours. They have a heart for families and a desire to teach parents how to teach their children! On this podcast, we discuss teaching scripture to our children and learning why it is so important that parents do this. Not only do the Cavins have great insight, but...
2021-11-241h 18Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 171: Ask Mike & Alicia: Addiction in Marriage, Fun Moms, Laundry Strategies, and Navigating Secular Christmas!We love interacting with our listeners and one way we do this is by taking your questions! Katie (Hernon) Gamboa joins us again to sit in as the "Every-mom" and ask us the questions that our members have sent in to us to be answered. Per usual, there is a variety of subjects that we cover in this episode. One mom is struggling with spiritual desolation and a husband who is agnostic. A dad dealing with addiction reached out for encouragement and advice on relating to his wife during recovery. We also touch on lighter topics such as laundry routi...
2021-11-181h 16
The Catholic Conversation8/14/21 - Mike and Alicia Hernon, Messy Family LifeLiving family life can be messy. It's nice to hear from veteran parents to encourage parents along the way. Mike and Alicia Hernon encourage us to grow in holiness through the day to day of family life. They are the founders of the Messy Family Project. This episode is sponsored by Caritas Press. Find books for the whole family at caritaspress.org.
2021-08-1330 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP161: Can Kids Use Technology with Virtue?Parenting kids in a tech age; Teaching kids virtue in an age of tech; Is it possible to use tech with virtue? "It is your responsibility to train your child in virtue and slowly move from protecting their innocence to building Christian maturity. This is true for many areas of life, including use of technology" - Mike and Alicia Hernon We have talked about the harm that the overuse of screens can do to kids and especially teens, but in this podcast we give parents some ways that they can be proactive in this world o...
2021-06-2458 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 157: Earth Day aka "Creation Day"April 22 is Earth Day, but maybe we Catholics could call it Creation Day and celebrate the loving Father who gave this world to us to "till and keep". Maybe we were thinking of this because Mike was chopping down old trees on our property and we all have sore backs this morning! But seriously, some may look at the extreme environmentalists and be tempted to move to the other extreme and not take seriously their stewardship of the land and animals that are part of our world - but that is not a Christian response! Time and time again our...
2021-04-2751 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 156: Being an Adult Child of DivorceDuring this episode, Mike shares his story of his parents' divorce when he was a teen and his own journey of healing over the past 20 years. But this is more than just his story. We also share the hope that Christ brings to us in all our relationships, the lessons learned from suffering and pain, and, ironically, how the divorce actually strengthened his belief in marriage as a covenant between two people that should never be violated. Anyone who has experienced the effects of divorce in their own lives, or who has married someone who has needs to hear thi...
2021-04-0956 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 148: Bring Your Kids to Christ, an interview with Colin and Aimee MacIverWe are asked very often how parents can create an environment in the home that will keep their kids close to the faith. To help give parents even more resources for this, we decided to interview Colin and Aimee MacIver, who are both parents, teachers, and authors for Ascension Press. They have created resources for parents to help them catechize their children and also to communicate the beautiful truths found in the Theology of the Body. Both Colin and Aimee are kindred spirits who have a heart for teens and their parents. They bring a wealth of experience and...
2021-01-081h 09Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 142: Kids and KindnessAfter 26 years of parenting you would think that we knew how to promote an atmosphere of virtue in our home automatically. But it doesn't work that way! We have had to stop and evaluate the way that our younger children have been treating each other and address it intentionally. In this podcast, we share some of the teaching we gave to our kids about practicing kindness, how we followed up afterwards, and why its important to train the actions AND the hearts of our children. Listen in to hear our Seven Tips on Kids and Kindness at home as we...
2020-10-2050 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 139: The Honor of Accompanying a Soul to EternityThis past summer our family lost a beloved uncle, brother-in-law, and husband. Alicia's uncle passed into eternity at home with his wife, and Alicia and her sister Maria were privileged to be present for his death. Death is a profound experience and one that we should all think about more. Many of us are afraid to confront the thought of death though it is (obviously!) a part of everyone's life. Our culture influences us more than we realize and we can get lulled into thinking this world is all there is. But this world is not our home! In this p...
2020-09-1058 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 114: Blessed in Our Brokenness Counseling and the Catholic FamilySocial fragmentation, the break down of the family, isolation, and stress has wounded and broken many of us. Families need to be honest about their need for professional help - honest with themselves and with those around them. It is a sign of strength to admit weakness! Plus, there are burdens that parents simply cannot carry alone. Marriage counselors, child therapists, 12 Step groups, doctors, and support groups are all resources that families can and should take advantage of in order to function in a healthy, holy way. Counseling can offer hope, healing, and a path forward. Listen in as we...
2019-07-1054 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 112: Mike and Alicia Answer Your QuestionsDuring our tour of Australia, we had the opportunity to meet many listeners and make some amazing new friends. One of our events was a day seminar for engaged and newly married couples with an Australian ministry - The Marriage Project. During the day, we had a time to take questions from the audience and we loved it! It was great to experience firsthand the desire that these couples had for intentional, authentic relationships with each other and with their greater community. We answered questions about blending families, challenge of children and marriage, discerning family size, and even our mos...
2019-06-0544 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMFP 106: Family Operations "Wash the cup not because it is dirty, or because you are told to, but because you love the person who will use it after you ~St. Teresa of Calcutta Very frequently people will email or write to us asking for our organization secrets, tips, or techniques. Our secret is.. We don't really have one. We do have principles and a philosophy that we live by, but the perfect system of organization for our home still eludes us. But, what we can give you is an overall view of how we make decisions and communicate with our c...
2019-02-2156 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 104: Parenting Fails A parenting fail is simply a lesson wrongly considered. ~ Mike and Alicia Hernon Have you ever let your emotions get the better of you? Have a discipline plan go south? Have a fun family time turn into a disaster? Yes, us too. All parents make mistakes! Even though we have a marriage and family podcast and we share advice and ideas, please don't think that we (like you!) haven't had some big "fails" ourselves! In this podcast, we share some stories of things we have done that didn't turn out the way we planned. The...
2019-01-2937 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 100: Greatest Influence on our ParentingWelcome to the 100th podcast! We are celebrating the public launch of our ministry with new branding, new website, and even new intro and outro music on the podcast itself! As promised, we decided to interview the people who had more influence on our parenting than anyone else, and who have taught us the most. Those people would be (drum roll, please!) our children! We hope you find both interviews entertaining and informative (though the younger kids were more entertaining than informative!). We decided that 12 people talking altogether would be too much so we first interviewed the oldest 5 children and...
2018-11-3055 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 083: Decisions, decisions, but what does God want?"Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Ps 37:4 Making decisions is a stressful and sometimes difficult task for most of us, especially when you are a parent. Deciding where to live, what job to take, or how to educate your children are probably three of the most important decisions you will make. How can you know what God wants? How can you discern what is best for you and for your family? In this podcast, we discuss things to consider when you have to make a big decision. God wa...
2018-01-2252 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 070: Where do priests come from? "It is in the family that young people have their first experience of Gospel values and of the love which gives itself to God and to others." ~ St. John Paul the Great As Catholic families, we want our children to be open to the call to the priesthood or religious life, but how do we do that in a practical way? Where does this call come from? How can we support our children in responding to that call? Ultimately, the answer comes down to teaching our children to love and know Jesus, because the path...
2017-05-0952 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 063: Fr. Mike Scanlan, our spiritual father "Father Mike Scanlan was a priest of the New Evangelization before there was a New Evangelization." ~ George Weigel Father Michael Scanlan, TOR, who died on January 7, 2017, the week before this podcast, impacted many lives with the saving message of Jesus Christ. He was a friar, priest, preacher, teacher, healer, and university president, but to us, he was a spiritual father. In this podcast, we take some time to reflect on the lessons that we have learned from this man that we would like to share and continue to make real in our lives. We know you...
2017-01-1841 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 057: A Messy Parenting Election GuideWarning! Political Talk Ahead! "The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." ~ Edmund Burke This election is a difficult one for many reasons. What is a good Catholic to do? Over the years, Mike has been involved in politics on the local, state, and federal levels. He has had time to think and pray about some principles that apply to this election in America, but also to elections in other countries and at other times. We think you will find this advice practical and helpful as we navigate...
2016-10-1747 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 050: The Hidden Cross of Infertility "We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer." ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer Our faith celebrates and values children and openness to life, so having one child or no children can be particularly painful for Catholic couples who long for a big family. To discuss this topic on a personal level, we interviewed Brad and Jessica Sheguit, Alicia's sister and brother-in-law who have carried this burden for over seven years. In this podcast, Brad and Jessica share their struggles and gi...
2016-05-0547 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 046: Every Mother is a Working Mother The phrase "working mother" is redundant. First, let's be clear – deciding if Mom should work outside the home is not a moral issue. It is a personal decision made by couples in light of their priorities. In this day and age, most mothers have to work outside the home at some point. Some moms have home businesses, some work part-time, some work full-time, some are able to not work at all. No matter what, the employment decision is a difficult one for families. In our family, Alicia has worked part-time and full-time, so we have had to wr...
2016-03-1046 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 029: Scripture and the Family "Learn the heart of God from the word of God." - Pope Saint Gregory the Great How is the Word of God honored in our homes? God is present in His Word; do we truly realize that? As Catholics, we need to surround our children with Scripture through stories, prayer, teaching, and song. We should be using the Bible to pass on the faith to our children, for it is through the Bible that they will come to know Who Jesus is and hear Him speaking to them. "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."...
2015-09-1339 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 028: Messy Parenting Guide to Dating "Nothing makes a father happier than seeing a daughter with a smile on her face and her boyfriend with fear in his eyes." - Willie Robertson Daughters AND sons need direction and guidance when it comes to dating. The world tells us that dating is private and we have no business "meddling" in our teens' affairs. Nothing is farther from the truth! Kids need mom and dad's wisdom on navigating the perilous world of relationships and emotions. We have some practical advice to give from our own experience that we can share with you. Parents have to...
2015-09-0650 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 025: Creating Order in a Messy World "Half of the time I feel like I'm running an insane asylum… the other half of the time I feel like I belong in one!" There are so many needs pressing on parents, especially moms, all day, every day. How can we prioritize our time and energy to create an orderly life for ourselves and our family? In the book A Mother's Rule of Life, Holly Pierlot describes the Six Priorities of Life that can help us create a routine in our day and make decisions that will help us use our time wisely and effectively. Despite wh...
2015-08-1638 minMessy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 022: Dealing with Loss "Why did God make you? God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven." - Baltimore Catechism Dealing with the loss of life is difficult for adults and for children. Our generation is more poorly equipped than the ones that came before us to deal with this issue, because we are repeatedly told that we are in total control of our own lives. This is simply not true. As Catholics, we have the great gift of our faith to form...
2015-07-1046 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 013: Submission in Marriage "Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior." Ephesians 5:22-23 Catholic lectors regularly skip this passage for a reason: people in the pews start squirming when it's read! Why is that? But this is an integral passage to help us understand not only the relationship between husbands and wives, but in understanding how we can image God to each other. Often this passage is misinterpreted and misunderstood, but after years of...
2015-04-1948 min
Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and FamilyMP 012: Passing on the Faith "…the happiness you are seeking, the happiness you have the right to enjoy, has a face and a name. It is Jesus of Nazareth, hidden in the Eucharist." - Pope Benedict XVI The only way our faith as Catholics makes any sense is when we see our lives as a journey to deepen our relationship with Jesus. If our lives aren't about Him, what is the point? In this podcast, Mike and Alicia interview Alicia's parents, John and Michele Doman, who are the parents of ten and grandparents to over forty young Catholics! Amazingly, and by God's gr...
2015-04-1232 min