Did you know C&C is a YouTube show too? Watch here! We discuss the following saints and their virtues: Faith exemplified by St. Bassa Courage exemplified by St. Perpetua Forgiveness and mercy exemplified by St. Gladys Perseverance exemplified by St. Theneva Detachment exemplified by St. Frances of Rome Generosity exemplified by Bl. Marianna Biernacka Resources Kelly’s website (Purchase Saintly Moms directly from her for a signed copy!) Stacey’s workout series Catholic Strong Thank you to thi...
Feb 07, 2022•51 min•Ep. 72
Watch on YouTube here! Well, well, well. My husband John actually asked to come up with the ideas for this episode and I was like 'YES thank you honey.' I always feared as a single person that my husband and I would fall out of love and out of like, and 5 years in, I'm happy to report we're more into each other than when we got married! We're sharing today our top tips for maintaining a healthy marriage: The importance of surrendering everything in marriage to God How to make your suffering frui...
Jan 19, 2022•27 min•Ep. 71
The Holy Spirit is... a dove?? Anyone else feel like the third Person of the Blessed Trinity is just a little inaccessible the way he's usually described? He's so much more than that. In fact, the Holy Spirit is no less than the ACTUAL antidote to literally everything wrong in the world. A relationship with the Holy Spirit is essential to good discernment, and if you don't know how to get started then this is the perfect episode for you. For some time I've wanted to delve deeper into understandi...
Dec 31, 2021•50 min•Ep. 70
WATCH ON YOUTUBE HERE Faith helps us get through challenges, yes, but when we have extended trials that press on us we can sometimes falter and lose heart. If we can’t hear God speak or feel his comfort, It can leave us questioning “why has God abandoned me? Where was he when I needed him? Does he really love me if he’s letting me go through this?” I experienced all those things in the trauma and trial an emergency C-section where my daughter almost died, followed by her 126 days in the NICU. It...
Nov 19, 2021•15 min•Ep. 69
So things are opening up again (Yay!) And suddenly you're back to juggling a busy schedule and your prayer life is slipping. You're not alone. In this episode I'm answering a question from Julie who's feeling frustrated by her lack of ability to maintain the 4-times-daily structure to her prayer life she had in quarantine. I'll be discussing: The #1 obstacle in your spiritual life (it's NOT faltering in your prayer life!) How to get back into a prayer routine once you've fallen off the horse Why...
Nov 09, 2021•18 min•Ep. 68
Watch on YouTube here! Show Notes Day after day, as I tearfully left my baby and away from the NICU, I would cry out to God, “how much longer?” It’s hard to believe that Nora was only in the hospital 126 days. It felt like 126 years. Why do the deserts of our lives feel so long, and what do you do when your faith begins to waver? Are you supposed to just get through it, or can you learn something when you're deprived of legitimate needs? Sonja Corbitt’s new book, Just Rest, came to me at the per...
Oct 07, 2021•50 min•Ep. 67
I got a note from Kim asking how to keep trusting God in her season of very extended singlehood. I sympathize 1000% with the struggle but I also FIRMLY believe no one has to stay in a place of sadness, loneliness, and scarcity. Topics Discussed My 3 hopes for anyone struggling with singlehood 3 strategies for achieving and living those hopes Resources Emily Stimpson Chapmans episode on the Called and Caffeinated Podcast on extended singlehood Fr. Mike Schmitz's episode on the Called and Caffeina...
Sep 08, 2021•21 min•Ep. 66
You know when a woman walks by who looks absolutely fabulous and confident? Is that woman you, or do you wish you could feel more comfortable in your own skin? Until recently, I was the latter. Between years of self-image issues, changing shape constantly from three pregnancies in five years, and hanging on to hand-me-downs I don't like because I feel guilty giving away free stuff, I've rarely felt fabulous in my clothing. Enter Nicole Caruso, former writer for Verily Magazine and author of Wort...
Aug 26, 2021•52 min•Ep. 65
You know when a woman walks by who looks absolutely fabulous and confident? Is that woman you, or do you wish you could feel more comfortable in your own skin? Until recently, I was the latter. Between years of self-image issues, changing shape constantly from three pregnancies in five years, and hanging on to hand-me-downs I don't like because I feel guilty giving away free stuff, I've rarely felt fabulous in my clothing. Enter Nicole Caruso, former writer for Verily Magazine and author of Wort...
Aug 26, 2021•52 min•Ep. 65
The Nakanes couldn't believe it when they discovered a personality typing system that maps not only to reality, but also to scripture! It's not just a fun Facebook quiz; this system is a powerful key to understanding the Triune God, the personality you were given, other people, motivations, and free will. Brennen and Audra Nakane have been researching, developing, and writing about Nakane CAPS for over a decade. This is one of the longest C&C episodes, but it's the audio equivalent of a page...
Aug 12, 2021•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 64
Never be overwhelmed by discerning religious life again! In this Q&A episode, follow this simple method to narrow down your search from the entire universe to the communities you're going to visit in person. Questions for journaling included in this episode: Do I see myself in a cloistered or an active community? Why? Is wearing a habit as part of religious life important to me? Why? Do I want to travel and serve in many places, or would I prefer to stay in one location? (I included this one...
Jul 28, 2021•17 min•Ep. 63
“Listening with a capital L is the secret to life, the secret to love, because you can’t love what you don’t understand, and you can only understand if you listen.” What if it were your actual job to contemplate? To perceive deeply? That’s how Dony MacManus sees his calling as an artist. He spent three weeks just drawing Michaelangelo’s Pieta, and he shares how that experience healed and changed him. Living in our distracted world, I know it’s a struggle to concentrate enough to enter into authe...
Jul 19, 2021•55 min•Ep. 62
A little while back I got a message from Kathryn who’s struggling to surrender to God’s will for vocation, career, and living situation. She wrote, “Every time I surrender what I want to God I just get sad, like I’m giving up. How can I surrender my desires God when I don’t even think he cares, when I don’t think he wants to give me what I want?” My heart went out to Kathryn and I knew right away I wanted to devote an entire episode to her question. During my vocational discernment journey, I di...
Jun 30, 2021•29 min•Ep. 61
“The Holy Spirit is moving now- he doesn’t want to wait five years until you’ve got your life together.” It was my honor to share a beverage with the incredibly down-to-earth and inspiring gal pal Ali Hoffman. From discussing grieving your dreams to awkward parties and how to host them, Ali and I are your cheerleaders in living out today well, whatever God's calling you to right now. Show Notes Finding your personal charism How to get started prayer doodling, especially if you judge your own art...
May 25, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 60
Life is mushy. It’s exhausting living in the gray. That’s why tuning into our inner compass- conscience- and learning what the voice of the Holy Spirit sounds like, are vital in discerning everyday decisions. God doesn’t care what color shoes we choose. But many small decisions are important because they add up to the big moments. The more we’re attuned to the ‘quickening’ of the Holy Spirit, the better we can make each little decision (and the quicker we'll know!) The nerd in me loved learning ...
May 11, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 59
It's been the wildest ride of our lives. At publishing time we're on day 93 in the NICU. John and I took listener questions and I think this episode will speak to anyone going through a hard time. Topics Discussed How have John and I supported each other? How have we reconciled the human negative emotions with being a faithful Christian? How do we deal with the vulnerability of the situation around strangers and sharing this experience? Will this experience prevent us from having more kids? How ...
Apr 14, 2021•42 min•Ep. 58
“People will listen to whoever steps in front of the mic. Why aren’t we proclaiming the Gospel? There’s people who are hungry and thirsty, who want to be spoken words of truth. It takes boldness, courage, and a certain humility to step in front of the crowd and share what’s on your heart.” This episode is several seemingly opposite things- half my super vulnerable struggles with my premature daughter's NICU journey (which is 2 1/2 months long and counting!) and half Fr. Mark Goring's wonderful Y...
Mar 30, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 57
“We have nothing to prove and everything to share.” Anyone else feel simultaneously like the weird Catholic in their artist’s circle, and also the weird artist in their Catholic circle? I firmly believe people of faith are called to creativity. One of my most commonly asked questions is, “How did you keep your faith during your Broadway career?” I knew immediately I wanted to record an episode on this with the Mitchell sisters. Melissa and Madison are NYC actor friends who not only survived, but...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 56
“You might have talents that are weird, like maybe you could work in the Yankee Candle lab to find what scents best induce Christmas cheer. And if you have the best nose, then I say get after it! Get after the candles!” When I was a kid, I got sculpey clay one Christmas. Sculpting became one of my fun little childhood hobbies. In high school, my mom found a book at the library on making clay caricatures of people. For a 10th grade school project, I made a doll of my teacher and left it on his de...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 55
This year I’ve been shadowbanned for being pro-life. I've received dozens of the nastiest comments attempting to shame and insult me for being a conservative and a Catholic. It got me thinking of my visit to Rome a few years ago when I visited the Church of Santo Stephano Rotondo. 34 gory, stomach-turning murals line the walls depicting the most unpleasant torture and death of early Christians. After getting over my initial “ouch ouch ouch” reaction, I began to notice that the martyr’s faces loo...
Dec 29, 2020•28 min•Ep. 54
ANNOUNCING THE JAN 2022 GOD'S ADVENTURE AWAITS PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND! Join me and fellow pilgrims to walk in the places where Jesus walked, discern your God-given mission and purpose, and experience the food and culture of Israel. Celebrate mass afloat on the Sea of Galilee and see Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Mt. Tabor, the Mount of the Beatitudes, and much more! “God doesn’t just give you one call…he insists on changing your life and your heart.” As a native of the little town of Beth...
Dec 08, 2020•53 min•Ep. 53
I was super nervous before my wedding night about sex. I didn’t know how to go about finding the right NFP method, and approaching married people with personal questions was embarrassing. The whole deal felt kinda… gross . John and I were promised a “honeymoon every month” in our marriage prep class, but living the reality was extremely hard. We felt disillusioned and bitter. Anyone else out there? This is THE exact convo I wish I’d heard in those times. I loved chatting with Bridget Busacker, t...
Nov 16, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 52
One million children experience their parents’ divorce each year. Two-thirds of them who were regularly attending a Church or synagogue at the time report that no one reached out to them at that time. Parents’ divorce increases their children’s chance of divorce by 40%. And barely any Catholic dioceses have an outreach for it. My friend Sarah Hart travels to speak at healing retreats and blogs with the ministry Life-Giving Wounds, one of the few Catholic ministry outreaches to adult children of ...
Nov 04, 2020•52 min•Ep. 51
WATCH ON YOUTUBE HERE I admit; I envied other girls in high school terribly. (Hello, insecurity!) Unless I could have that girl’s hair, or that other girl’s confidence or whatever other quality I saw that I wanted, I wasn’t good enough. Ladies, been there? It didn’t occur to my immature teenage brain that I wasn’t supposed to be like anyone else. That there was something unique I had to do in the world. That appreciating other women’s qualities and building them up was much, much better than com...
Oct 21, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 50
“If the bullets are going away from you, you’re going the wrong way!” WATCH ON YOUTUBE HERE I'm fascinated by the life of Sr. Dede Byrne, today's guest. I first encountered her speaking at the Republican National Convention where she literally held up her rosary and called it her 'weapon of love.' Sr. Dede served as a Colonel in the Army for years before entering the community of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. As a physician, she's given medical care to both Mother Te...
Oct 08, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 49
Gulp. Politics. Not gonna lie, folks; I’ve been terrified to podcast about voting. Many issues are highly incendiary and in our cancel culture it’s daunting. I know I'm not alone as I wrestle with answers to the hard questions. But as I read Clear Conscience, A Catholic Guide to Voting by Matthew Pinto, CEO and founder of Ascension Press, I gained hope knowing that in this confusing world there can be clarity. The Church and Matthew’s book won’t tell you for whom to vote, but it will empower you...
Sep 25, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 48
“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” -C.S. Lewis Called and Caffeinated is back and better than ever (if I do say so myself!) This conversation with Dominick Albano, author...
Sep 11, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 47
FREE Virtual Summit July 31-Aug 2 2020! A dream event about discerning ALL vocations featuring 40+ of your favorite speakers: Sr. Bethany Madonna, Jackie and Bobby Angel, Jason Evert, Sr. Helena Burns, Fr. Mark Goring, Joe Melendrez, Mary Lenaburg, Fr. Timothy Gallagher, Cameron Fradd, Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Matt and Erin Ingold, Katie Prejean McGrady, and MANY more! Also featuring the world's first virtual Meet and Greet for mission organizations and religious communities! Sign up here: Staceysumer...
Jul 15, 2020•18 min•Ep. 46
“Maybe you should start putting your life into two categories: a no or a hell yes.” Many times I've wondered, "When do things stop changing? When do I get to stop re-adjusting and just be?" The answer is, never. Kathryn Whitaker, mom of six and author of Live Big, Love Bigger, has incredible perspective on coping when plans change. As a mom of six children, one of whom has dealt with ongoing health issues, and in dealing with health issues herself, Kathryn is a bastion of resilience and hope. We...
Jul 02, 2020•51 min•Ep. 45
“All around us we see an impersonal lifestyle trying to invade the family and take away its richness, its culture, its ability to reflect the Trinity in its communion of persons. You’re not alone: you CAN find heaven in your home. It’s not just home base, a place to put your stuff, an entertainment center, or bricks and mortar. It’s a domestic church- a Trinity house!” Catholicism and coffee are among my favorite things (in case you can't guess from the title of my podcast,) so when I found Trin...
Jun 17, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 44
