Description Every once in a while you come across a new perspective, fresh eyes, on an age old challenge > and it breaks through lots of baggage and pre-conceived notions. And this podcast in the grand sense is about addressing the age old challenge of reaching everyday Catholics in the pews with the Gospel. Kristin Bird helped me see this perennial challenge with fresh eyes. And she conceives of this challenge and talks about it in a way that is so helpful and accessi...
Apr 14, 2025•39 min•Season 4Ep. 94
Description In this episode I discuss the reasons why we are afraid of the PAUSE in our talks and three reasons why your next talk needs the PAUSE. Links For more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreach Better Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel. Check out Ryan’s FREE course on “sharing your faith as a Catholic.” Follow Ryan on Instagram , Twitter , YouTube , or Facebook Join the Better Preach email list . ...
Apr 07, 2025•16 min•Season 4Ep. 93
Description As you listen to this episode, I think it will be abundantly clear that you're witnessing me in real time have something of an “aha” moment. I went in thinking one way: that to teach and preach about same sex attraction to all God's people, including those who experience it, it was really about a technique or a method or a kind of a tweak in style of communication. And that's not at all where we ended up, by the end of the episode, even though I kept yanking the conversation in that ...
Apr 01, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 92
Description The most precious real estate of any talk, I would say is that first 90 seconds where the audience is trying to figure out: Are they gonna stay tuned or are they gonna tune out? Today I wanna share with you what not to do, and hopefully what to do in those first 90 seconds to make sure that you make the most of that precious real estate. Links For more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreach Better Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a l...
Mar 24, 2025•18 min•Season 4Ep. 91
Description Welcome back folks, Season 4 of Better Preach is here, and we kick things off with a really special episode, one that was recorded and filmed live (Check out YouTube) at SEEK 2025 in Salt Lake City. You are going to love this conversation, Fr. John didn’t blink at any of the questions I shared - it was an incredible conversation to be a part of. And the big takeaway for me was how well knit together is the gift of preaching and a daily personal prayer life. Father John Bu...
Mar 15, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 90
Description Today I'm excited to share with you, three things that I've been asked to do at SEEK 25 in Salt Lake City. And I'm looking today both to bring you up to speed on some of those things, because it relates to what we talk about here on Better Preach, but I'm also looking for your input and your prayer. Are you down for one or both of those things? Secondly, this is the last episode of Season 3. We're kind of at a good stopping point and I have some really exciting Interviews coming up t...
Dec 30, 2024•13 min•Season 3Ep. 89
Description By the end of this episode, you'll have a simple way to get good feedback from Catholic leaders who hire you to speak and or anyone else that you'd like to receive feedback from. As an example, here’s a link to my feedback form: ryanohara.org/feedback Link to PDF Overview of Episode Here’s a link to the PDF Overview of this Episode “How to Get Good Feedback, Easily”, which includes a sample email template you can adapt for your purposes, in asking others you trust (or who have hired ...
Dec 10, 2024•15 min•Season 3Ep. 88
Description Many talks in Catholic settings. inspire. But do they transform? Do they have a life changing impact on the people who are listening to them? It's true that not every time you listen to a Catholic talk, it's gonna lead, you know, to life transformation. But what if None of the talks that you listen to lead to any change in your life. Something's missing. Today I want to talk about this, this all important step of making our talks actionable, something that the people who are listenin...
Nov 25, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 87
Description I've got a great episode today with my trusty, occasional cohost, Connor Flanagan, and we talk about a “seven day spiritual prep plan” that you can do ahead of the SEEK conference or ahead of any conference or retreat that you're getting ready to go into. So seven days of different spiritual activities before the conference starts so that your conference experience, the spiritual moment in your life. can really, kind of be maximized so as to make a transformation and a change in your...
Nov 18, 2024•32 min•Season 3Ep. 86
Description You may not realize it, but the truth is, inside of you are an unlimited number of great stories to tell. For some people, a rare few actually, this is self-evident - stories just seem to flow out as easily as the next breath. For most, though, it’s a slog - we either keep coming back to the same stories over and over OR we try to come up with new ones, but just can’t seem to recall anything worth sharing. This is a pain point for people giving talks on a regular ba...
Nov 11, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 85
Description We’ve got a hot one here folks! So many people are asking the question nowadays “How do I get into Catholic speaking?” or “How do I become a Catholic speaker?” and so often the line from Jeff Goldblum’s character in Jurassic Park comes to mind in response. He famously says to the owner of Jurassic Park - "your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should” And that’s where my conversation with Marcel LeJeune goes right a...
Nov 04, 2024•49 min•Season 3Ep. 84
Description When you're handed a microphone in front of a group of people, I’m guessing you have a plan for what you're going to say. But I don't think we always plan on preparing for what will be heard. In this episode Ryan continues his four part series on “Four Pillars of Great Talk”. Today’s episode is on the third pillar, “Make it Applicable” on knowing your audience. The other two that have been covered in the podcast are: “Make it Compelling”, episode 59, “How to Have Something to Say” ht...
Oct 28, 2024•22 min•Season 3Ep. 83
Description It turns out that hip-hop and preaching have a lot more in common than one might think. In fact, at the core of both of them is an incredible (and surprising) overlap. My guest today, Oscar Rivera, taught me so much about the beauty, authenticity, and creativity of hip-hop culture and how, in him, (and you too) these same gifts need to shine through our ministry of preaching and teaching in Catholic settings. Stick around. This is an unforgettable conversation...
Oct 21, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 82
Description Should’ve seen this one coming, but didn’t. From discussing “why do we sing?” to how to break down invisible barriers with audiences - that all leads to “owning the hell out of talks.” In this fantastically unique conversation Abe Gross shares his unique perspective on teaching and preaching from the perspective of a super gifted worship leader (and speaker too!). Abe Gross is the Music Director for Saint Paul’s Outreach. After serving for 10 years as a ...
Oct 14, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 81
Description You want a surefire way to look like a prideful unprofessional punk as a speaker: BLOW THROUGH THE ALLOTTED TIME GIVEN. :) That'll do it, for sure! In this episode Ryan discusses "why this happens", "why it matters", and "what we can do about it." Links For more information about the Better Preach Podcast visit: www.ryanohara.org/betterpreach Better Preach Podcast is now on YouTube. Here’s a link to the channel. Better Preach is a proud member of Spoke Street , a Catholic Podcast Net...
Oct 07, 2024•23 min•Season 3Ep. 80
Description In Dostoevsky’s novel, the Idiot, the character Prince Myshkin declares “Beauty will save the world”, This truth and goodness behind this compelling statement has animated such prominent Catholic theologians as Cardinal Hans urs von Balthasar, Bishop Robert Barron, and many others in our day. And if can be so bold “beauty” might just save our talks too. And in my conversation today with Jimmy Mitchell we not only consider the ways in which this may be true in our preparation AN...
Sep 30, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 79
Description It says in James chapter 3 and I’m gonna paraphrase “If a man is able to control his tongue, he can control his whole life.” And in my conversation with OG Catholic podcaster Taylor Schroll, the theme woven throughout is how powerful the spoken word can be - both in a really funny story about one of his ‘worst’ talks, but also in Preaching in general. And more to the point, which WORDS or WORD do we emphasize when we preach. And do we bring the most powerful WORD to...
Sep 23, 2024•46 min•Season 3Ep. 78
Description Your talks for Catholic audiences are too complicated, And mine are too!. Ha! Whether it’s for teenagers, adults, or little kids we are packing way to much information into too tight spaces. So, as I’ve been asked to speak to Catholic Leaders about “How to Give a Good Talk”, I’ve developed four principles - CLEAR, COMPELLING, APPLICABLE and ACTIONABLE. These correspond to four questions every Catholic speaker should ask themselves as they are developing and deliveri...
Sep 16, 2024•21 min•Season 3Ep. 77
Description Katie Hartfiel is a ‘speakers speaker’. She was called to speak, has many years of experience, is a mentor to others *and* works really hard on each talk BEFORE she steps on stage. It was the combination of hours of PREPARATION *and* PRACTICE that I think sets Katie apart. Her process is inspiring and super practical…something for each of us to learn from and imitate. Katie Hartfiel received her theology degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville and spent th...
Sep 09, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 76
Description Jim Beckman has seen it all. From being a part of the onset of Steubenville Conferences spreading nationally to ministering to Columbine High School students in the wake that tragedy to launching Y Disciple and so much more…he truly has had a generational impact on the Catholic Church in America. But that “impact” has a cost too…and we dig in to the mark that lifelong ministry can have - and the need for new ways of supporting people giving their lives to serve the Church...
Sep 02, 2024•52 min•Season 3Ep. 75
Description Today’s episode is a new kind of episode. I plan during Season 3 to add Article Reviews and Book Discussions. Today is a solo episode where I share my three main takeaways from an article by Christian Smith, Sociologist at University of Notre Dame, on “Improving Catholic Homilies”. Here’s a link to the Article: Improving Catholic Homilies, Part 2: Less Moralism, More Gospel (00:27) Introducing the New Episode Format (00:53) Discussion on Christian Smith's Article (02:32) Key Takeaway...
Aug 26, 2024•20 min•Season 3Ep. 74
Description When it comes to speaking to Catholic audiences where does one BEGIN when preparing a talk? Where do you begin? I know too often I begin with: “have I given a talk on this topic before?” or “whats inspiring me lately?”. Again, nothing wrong with either of these, but are either of these the most important place to start? Well my guest today has some convictions around this question, and you’ve got to stick around to hear all about it. Chika An...
Aug 19, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 73
Description A powerful theme emerged throughout this conversation which was “how do you know when to pivot” from what’s been planned. AND HOW EXACTLY do you do it? This is one of the hardest skills to master for people new to giving talks in Catholic settings…and there are no hard/fast rules. In each instance…there is a judgment call made, sometimes in just a few seconds to STAY the COURSE or to PIVOT. Brian Greenfield and I dig deep into this question. As you...
Aug 12, 2024•56 min•Season 3Ep. 72
Description Today is episode 71, Quick Reactions from the Eucharistic Congress with Ennie Hickman. So I was on the prowl from the moment I landed in Indianapolis until this morning, that was like 10 days ago, I was dead set on connecting with my guest today, my first ever guest on the podcast, any Hickman. And so I brought my stuff to Indianapolis, but that didn't work out to connect up our schedules were. Wild and we didn't even see each other until the last night at about 11 PM. Um, so then we...
Jul 29, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 71
Description This has come up over and over again. You know, talking with people who experience a call and a desire to do more speaking in Catholic settings, either because it's part of their job in ministry with young people or their directors of faith formation, or their priests or deacons or whatever it might be. But there's also this idea that what if additionally there may be other talks that I might be able to give in particular settings locally, nationally, regionally, again, whatever that...
Jul 11, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 70
Description With every new generation, evangelists, preachers and teachers MUST ADAPT if we hope that this new generation will HEAR THE GOOD NEWS and wholeheartedly RESPOND to it’s promises. This week I sit down with someone who is serving, teaching, and preaching on the front lines at one of reaching Gen-Z. Dr. Andrew Swafford is professor of theology at Benedictine College, where he teaches courses on Scripture, St. John Paul II, and the moral and spiritual life. Among his publications ...
Jul 08, 2024•44 min•Season 3Ep. 69
Description This week’s episode is a dream come true. From the first time I pressed record on the podcast till now, I have hoped to support everyday people working in the Church with giving talks - YMs, DREs, Deacons, Campus Ministers, etc.. And it’s happened! Today is proof positive. Not long after I started this Podcast, my guest today Nick Longo reached out to share his appreciation for the show and the growth in giving Catholic talks that he was seeing in his ministry. And ...
Jul 01, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 68
Description Today is a special episode, because in the last year, about 12 months to be exact I took the biggest leap of faith of my life. It all came to pass at a four-day silent retreat last summer where Jesus invited me to “feed his sheep”, to leave SPO and the comfort of a steady paycheck, and GO full-time, preaching and teaching. Here were the words that I believe Jesus spoke to me that put the final nail in the coffin, of my discernment. “If you love me and for only as long as ...
Jun 24, 2024•18 min•Season 3Ep. 67
Description Barbara Heil is a former Protestant Pastor and Minister who is celebrating her 10th year in the Roman Catholic Church. Barbara speaks nationally and around the world, sharing her passion for the Gospel, and inviting others to encounter God in a deeper way. God wants to speak HIS MESSAGE through you. Has that sunk in?? That this isn’t my message, your message, but God’s message. We go DEEP into this IDEA today on the podcast…WHY we must focus on God’s word and ...
Jun 17, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 66
Description Fr. Alex Colautti is the vocations director for the Companions of the Cross, a religious community of charismatic Catholic priests. He is a co-author of Preaching on Purpose: A Divine Renovation Handbook for Communicating the Gospel Today. Fr Alex lives to see people come into a life-transforming encounter with Jesus in the Power of the Holy Spirit. And today we…dig into his book and two BIG IDEAS around HOMILIES… - One church, one message - Preaching as a Team And before we start, b...
Jun 10, 2024•59 min•Season 3Ep. 65
