The Courage of a Mother, with Cindy Parseghian Cindy Parseghian is actively shaping the future. In 1994, she and her husband Mike founded a foundation dedicated to finding a cure for Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C), a genetic, cholesterol storage disorder that claimed the lives of three of their four children. The foundation joined forces with the University of Notre Dame in 2015, and together they fight daily to end this devastating disease. The Parseghian family was blessed with four childr...
May 26, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 80
The topic of gratitude will always be embedded in the mission of this podcast so it is fitting that in this episode it’s true power is explored with the award-winning author and speaker, Patrick Garry. Patrick is a professor of law at the University of South Dakota and the Director of the Hagemann Center for Legal & Public Policy Research and earned his Ph.D. and J.D. from the University of Minnesota. He has published 13 non-fiction books, 8 novels and has been published in 139 scholarly art...
Apr 14, 2025•47 min•Season 2Ep. 79
The Moran Family is excited to announce the launch of the With Gratitude Matt Foundation. This special episode is again hosted by Matt's brother Bill and he is joined by sister Moira to discuss the foundation's goals and background along with a few other updates and family stories. When Matt passed in August of 2023, the idea to honor and preserve Matt's legacy of helping others was an immediate goal of the family. The Moran family is excited to announce that With Gratitude Matt is now a charita...
Mar 17, 2025•46 min•Season 2Ep. 78
For many, running just one marathon is a life goal and puts you in a category with only .01% of the global population who even attempt this feat each year. But imagine running 111 marathons? Now we are talking about a very select group that has ever pulled off this rare achievement. Michael Kloepfer is one of those special individuals who runs not only for the pure joy of it but for the purpose of raising money to support cancer research at Sloan Kettering. Since he started running marathons in ...
Dec 02, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 77
Some life lessons we are forced to learn earlier than others. For Bryce Steele, he learned at age 17 that suffering is part of the journey and that bad things can happen to good people. In September of 2019, Bryce was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called thymoma, which after the initial treatment, would still return two more times. Cancer was not part of his plan of a being a future college linebacker. Initially, Bryce was recruited by over 30 schools around the country to play football i...
Jun 03, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 75
Ellen Duncan strives to live a life of joy alongside grief. Every day she models strength, love, and faith for her daughters and all who know her. In July 2022, life took a shocking turn and she lost her husband Paul of 10 years while he was out on a morning run. A heart condition - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – which Paul was unaware he had, took his life and created a new path for the family. In this conversation with host Bill Moran, Ellen shares the love story between her and Paul and it’s b...
Apr 29, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 76
Dr. John Delony is a highly sought after best-selling author, mental health expert and show host covering relationships, mental health, anxiety, healthy leadership and emotional wellness. In other words, this episode is relatable to just about anyone aware of the opportunity to learn from adversity. John has been with Ramsey Solutions since 2020 and hosts the Dr. John Delony Show. Through his speaking and writing, he helps individuals work through past trauma and find a path forward. So often wh...
Mar 04, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Dr. Christopher Kerr is an end life researcher, a hospice physician, CEO and Chief Medical Officer for Hospice and Palliative Care in Buffalo, NY, and the acclaimed author of Death is But a Dream . He provided hospice care for Matt Moran and his family in August, 2023. His extraordinary care and guidance was impactful and comforting for the family in the moment and in the grieving process that followed. As Matt would certainly would have wished and how he so often did with this podcast, we are p...
Dec 23, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 73
SHOW NOTES: The world lost a positive force of nature, a friend, brother, a husband, and a father of two amazing girls on August 20, 2023, when Matt passed. Over the past 3 years while Matt lived with his cancer, he created 71 episodes of With Gratitude, Matt . During that time, he shined his light on many others and helped give a voice to stories filled with life lessons. He modeled how to live with gratitude every day and how to be a man for others. His earthly presence will be dearly missed, ...
Oct 02, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 72
Danita Estrella-Watts is the founder and President of Danita’s Children in Haiti which cares for orphaned children. Her vision began at the young age of 11 after a mission trip opened her eyes to all the suffering. Twenty-five years later she returned and by listening to God’s voice, she began to create tools to care for the children of Haiti. Today her organization is able to meet many physical, emotional and spiritual needs through a home which cares for 80 orphans, a school that educates over...
Jul 31, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 71
Stephanie and Tom Quehl are the proud parents of four boys. In September of 2021, they faced the worst tragedy when they lost their son, Jack, to a lethal dose of fentanyl-laced cocaine at the young age of 24. Jack was not an addict or a habitual drug user and had never intended to take fentanyl, but it unfortunately robbed him of his future. Jack’s background was filled with academic success, athletic achievement, family love, friends, and impact wherever he went (he was an avid traveler), not ...
Jul 17, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 70
Jennifer’s story is heartbreaking yet also powerful as it provides a unique lens into domestic violence, homelessness, and the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. 10 years into her marriage, she reached a breaking point after barely surviving an episode where she was beaten and almost set on fire. But it was the love of her son and eventually God’s spirit that put her on a long path of recovery towards finding a better life. Jennifer’s serendipitous encounter with Matt at the Logan Intern...
Jul 03, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 69
Brett R. Smith, Ph. D. is the Founding Research Director of the the L.I.F.E Research Lab at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio (L.I.F.E =Leading the Integration of Faith & Entrepreneurship). His program explores how spirituality and business can indeed be interwoven together for a more fulfilling professional and personal journey. The program’s birth at a public University was unlikely, but after hearing about Brett’s journey, his calling to teach, his deep faith, and the seeds that God plante...
Jun 19, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In this insightful episode, we dive deep into the life of Howard Behar, the former president of Starbucks Coffee. As one of the founding leaders, he participated in expanding Starbucks from just 28 stores after joining in 1989 to over 15,000 stores in 5 continents after his 21 years of service ended. Since retiring, he has written 2 books It's Not About The Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks and The Magic Cup: A Business Parable About a Leader, a Team, and the Power of Puttin...
Jun 05, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 67
Author Jen Pollock Michel has found that one of the keys to being a good writer is just paying attention and being curious about the world and your own questions. Many of her books are a reflection of her own human experience of faith and her journey to find purpose and where to lean among all the everyday challenges that we all face from our bills, loss we encounter, health obstacles and relationships. In her work as a talented writer, speaker, coach, and podcast host, she talks about relying o...
May 22, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 66
In 1984, Jon’s life took an unexpected turn when the first symptoms of ulcerative colitis started to appear. In addition to the health hurdles, the disease brought with it various other social, athletic and just practical life challenges. Treatment options at that time were limited to steroids which brought such side effects as weight gain and trouble sleeping. Diet choices and awareness of the nearest restroom became part of the day. Jon initially kept his diagnosis private and he just tried hi...
May 08, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 65
In the long list of published inspiring sport stories are great feats by well-known athletes from well-known teams from around the world. While John Hurd’s may not be as famous, his story is as uplifting as any and his achievements are beyond remarkable. John has won 169 gold medals, including 9 at the national level, in track and field. The amazing part of those achievements is that they all came after age 61 and continue today into his 91st year. His story is documented in his two books, JOHNN...
Apr 24, 2023•37 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Author Barbara Legere lost her 29 year old son Kevin to suicide in 2020. Kevin had been fighting a drug addition and his mental health for 13 years and Barbara did everything she knew how to do to help him recover and just love him. His life and the lessons Barbara learned from it inspired her to write a book called, Kevin's Choice, A Mother's Journey Through her Son's Mental Illness, Addiction and Suicide. Her hope is that the book will help other parents and teens who are suffering, shine a li...
Apr 10, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 63
Most any high school basketball player in the 1970s dreamed of the opportunity to play for Coach John Wooden, one of the most respected and successful coaches of all time. Andy Hill earned that chance on a UCLA team that won 3 straight National Championships from 1970-72 (part of a string of 7) along with such legends as Bill Walton, Henry Bibby and Jamaal Wilkes. The only issue for Andy was that he spent much of those 3 years as a reserve on the bench. After graduating, Andy carried some unreso...
Mar 27, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 62
Bret Betz MD is a physician at the University of Cincinnati Health specializing in orthopaedics, sports medicine, and emergency medicine. It was his interest in sports medicine that led him to become the team physician for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was on the field January 2 when Damar Hamlin went down and laid unconsciousness on the field as 23 million fans watched across the country. It was a moment he and his team were prepared for due to their game day routines, discipline, years of trainin...
Mar 13, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 61
The work to become a priest is not easy but it is full of joy as you will see with this conversation with Brother Andrew. Brother Andrew Torrey is in his last year of 14 years of formation with the Legionaries of Christ in Rome. In the spring of 2024, he will be ordained and assigned to a parish somewhere else in the world. For many of us, 14 years of religious study and the anxiety of an unknown future living location might seem overwhelming. But Brother Andrew is putting his trust in God and k...
Feb 27, 2023•43 min•Season 1Ep. 60
Newly published author Hannah Schermerhorn was two months away from her wedding day in 2014 when she ended the engagement. She was embarrassed, felt shame and was let down because she wanted all the richness and joy that comes from married life. Learning to embrace being single was a transition that was aided heavily by her faith and her strong upbringing. Her experience inspired her to write her first book for any others facing similar challenges. Hannah discovered countless lessons and tools t...
Feb 13, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Chris Gathers is a brain cancer warrior and after the successful removal of his tumor, decided to do something to shake up his daily routine. Inspired by a best friend, he started an Instagram page @culminationpoint in which he posts regular messages about surviving brain cancer, trauma and lessons learned about healing and growth. As the title of his page suggests, it came down to a choice of either status quo or shedding the past and recreating. As a Regional Vice President for Nationwide Insu...
Jan 30, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 58
After releasing 56 shows over two and one-half years, the With Gratitude Matt show honors former guests by asking them to check in with their latest gratitude list and honors listeners by asking them to share highlights from past shows. With each episode, the intent is always to pass along life lessons, share stories that people can connect with, and talk about the power of gratitude, faith, and community in overcoming challenges. With this episode, we reflect on the show’s journey so far and ta...
Jan 16, 2023•34 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Kathy and her husband Dave Leurck are the proud parents of 3 children, Andrew, Audrey, and Alexandra. As parents, we of course all hope that our children are born and develop perfectly. But sometimes God has other plans and our dreams change. In Drew’s early years, it was discovered he had special needs and his family did everything they could to understand his condition and “fix it”. However, as time passed and his growth and abilities were better understood, the family came to accept who Drew ...
Dec 21, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Jonathon Sams is no stranger to fighting adversity in his life. When he was 14 he was diagnosed with cancer the first time, then again when he was 39, and for a third time in the spring of 2022. He is a loving husband and father of 4 who sees overcoming cancer as one of his many roles in life. Now, after 3 battles with the disease, he is in a position where he can help others with fear when facing cancer treatment or any big life obstacle. His positive outlook is infectious and also just a choic...
Nov 21, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 55
Chris Norton’s story and the person he is today truly define inspiration. You can find details of his journey from many sources including NBC NEWS , People Magazine , or the film made about his achievements titled, “7 Yards” (on Netflix). In 2010, Chris suffered a debilitating spinal cord injury while playing football for Luther College his freshman year. Paralyzed from the neck down, he was given just a three percent chance of recovery. Not one to back down from a challenge, Chris chose to figh...
Nov 07, 2022•47 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Staying strong through a crisis is never easy. To endure and get to the other side of not one, but many hurdles, takes perseverance and the ability to lean on a solid foundation of character. For Dan deStefano, his strong upbringing where virtues where instilled by parents, friends, and the neighborhood and where a relationship with God was always part of the picture, he managed to sustain a series of hits and land in a better spot. Dan is Co-Owner of West Chester Hardwood Flooring , Partner/Own...
Oct 24, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 53
After graduation from college, Susan Fulton was searching, as many of us do, for purpose and a path to follow. While her faith had always been part of her life and been a foundation, it did not necessarily provide a light. She was a perfectionist in which fulfillment came more from order and control. But shortly into her marriage to Rich, she turned over control to God and allowed her faith to become more than just a spoke in the wheel, but rather the steering wheel. With this change, came more ...
Oct 10, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Nate Forrestel makes a decision everyday that he is going to find a way to inspire others. He does this as a content creator and a social media influencer on TikTok and Instagram for his growing audience of 36,000 followers. What makes Nate’s videos so unique is that he is a golfer who plays with cerebral palsy, a condition that was so severe at birth, that doctors expected he would only survive for 72 hours. Nathan beat the odds and continues to thrive today. As he hit his teen years, Nate real...
Sep 19, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 51
