EquipCast
Religion & Spirituality
About
Sharing your Catholic faith with family and friends can sometimes feel daunting. Where do I start? How do I make an impact? Welcome to EquipCast, a weekly podcast from the Archdiocese of Omaha. We want to support your faith journey and equip you with the tools to express your faith authentically in your everyday life.Each week, we’ll discuss practical advice and experiences from real people sharing their mission with the world. Each episode is filled with encouragement and inspiration so you can make an impact and make disciples in your own faith community. For more information and to stay connected with us, head to equip.archomaha.org/podcast/.
Episodes
- Summer Break - See you in August!
Hey friends, the EquipCast is hitting pause early for a summer reset. We’re stepping into a break starting in May… because something new, bold, and exciting is coming your way. Rest up, enjoy the summer, and get ready. We’re back in August…
- Episode 212: Can you afford to say yes to God? How to fund the mission.
Can you afford to say yes to God? I know that question might make you uncomfortable—because it’s made me uncomfortable. We talk a lot about trust, about saying yes to the Lord, about living on mission… but when it comes to finances, securi…
- Episode 211: What Would You Do for Your Child? The Story of Tom Vander Woude
What would you do if the person you loved most was in danger—and there was no time to think? Today on the Equip Cast, I sit down with Chris Vander Woude to tell the story of a quiet, faithful father who answered that question with his life…
- Coach’s Corner 29: A Book Review of Spousal Prayer by Deacon James Keating
Can love in marriage really last? I believe it can—and not because we’re strong enough or compatible enough, but because God meets us there. Staying in love isn’t something we just grit our teeth and manage. It’s something we learn through…
- Episode 210: Life as an Evangelization Coordinator: How Accompaniment Transforms a Community
Today, we begin a series where I talk to Evangelization Coordinators from across our archdiocese. You’ll hear the honest stories, hard-won wisdom and quiet ways God is moving through the people helping to lead parish renewal from the groun…
- Inside Jim’s Inbox – Q&A 1
Welcome to the very first episode of Inside Jim’s Inbox, a new Q&A series where I open up the real questions you send—about faith, fear, evangelization, ministry, and everything in between—and we walk through them together. In this kickoff…
- Episode 209: OCIA - Rediscovering the Heart of Parish Life
What if the ancient way of welcoming seekers is exactly what we’re missing? When Dr. Chris Burgwald, Chancellor for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, and I dug into the roots of OCIA, it struck me how much wisdom we’ve left sitting on the shelf.…
- Coach's Corner 28: Why do we keep trying silver bullets?
* What do you do when the strategy, the program, or the plan just isn’t enough? * Because I’ve been there—and in this episode, I talk about why our “silver bullets” so often fail us. We love quick fixes, big programs, and shiny solutions,…
- Episode 208: The Shift That Revives a Parish: A Great Catholic Parishes Webinar
What if everything changes when people finally feel seen, known, and accompanied? In this republished conversation from the Great Catholic Parishes podcast, I join host John Poitevent to unpack why this simple shift lies at the very heart…
- Episode 207: Holy Simplicity: When Clutter Competes With Your Calling
What if your home isn’t just messy… but actually pulling you away from God’s call? I know—that question stopped me in my tracks too. In this week’s episode, I sit down with simplicity consultant Katie Sciba, and she helped me see something…
- Episode 206: Dying Well: A Catholic Neurosurgeon's Insights on Life and Death
What does it mean to face death well? When I sat down with Dr. Stephen Doran—a neurosurgeon, deacon, and man who’s walked intimately with suffering—I felt my own fears and assumptions around death get exposed. There’s something powerful ab…
- Coach’s Corner 27: What Parents Really Want
What if the biggest thing parents want from us is to know they belong? When I listen to parents—really listen—I hear something deeper than frustration about busy schedules or kids who can’t sit still at Mass. I hear an ache. Parents want t…
- Episode 205: Witness before Wisdom: What Couples Need When Preparing for Marriage
How can we expect couples to live a sacramental marriage when they’ve never seen one lived? So many of the couples who walk into our parishes today aren’t rooted in the life of the Church. Nine out of ten aren’t attending Mass, many have s…
- Episode 204: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 2)
What happens when we start trusting programs more than we trust people? Discipleship slows down—because programs don’t accompany anyone. People do. Programs support the mission, but people are the mission. In part two of this conversation…
- Episode 203: How to Break Your Clear Path (Part 1)
Why do discipleship efforts that start with so much hope sometimes stall—or fall apart? In this episode, I sit down with coaches from our Parish Support Team to talk honestly about how Clear Paths to discipleship can break down—often befor…
- Coach's Corner 26: Rediscover the Heart of Evangelization
How do you keep the Gospel alive and at the center of your work? Start with the quiet, world-changing truth that Jesus loves you. He gave His life to save you. And He is with you today—right now—to enlighten, strengthen, and free you. When…
- Episode 202: Confronting the Ghost of St. John Vianney: A Vision for Modern Parish Life
Is the ideal of priesthood stuck in the past? I love the saints—especially guys like St. John Vianney—but trying to imitate their circumstances can leave today’s priests feeling defeated before they even begin. In this episode, Fr. Scott T…
- Episode 201: Where is God Leading You? An Ignatian Approach to Setting Goals
Feeling stuck and longing for clarity? I invite you to take a moment to pause, pray, and discern where God is calling you. Today’s guest, Lisa Kelly, leadership coach, author of The Spiritual Path, and expert in Ignatian spirituality, shar…
- Coach's Corner 25: Pope Leo's Christmas List: Six Gifts That Could Change the Church
What’s on Pope Leo’s Christmas list—and can you fulfill it for him? He’s not asking for gifts wrapped in paper and bows. His wish is for a Church renewed in mission, united in love, and bold in proclaiming Christ first. Imagine communities…
- Episode 200: Courageous Conversations – How to Break the Silence and Bring Healing with Mari Pablo
What do you do when silence feels safer than the truth? Rely on God to give you the grace and courage to do what your strength can’t: turn difficult moments into opportunities for honesty, deeper trust, and real healing. In this episode of…
- Episode 199: Pilgrims of Hope: The Recipe for Lasting Parish Renewal with Julianne Stanz
What if the secret to transforming your parish isn’t doing more—but praying more deeply and trusting God to lead? We’ve seen it happen. The Diocese of Green Bay started small, rooted everything in prayer, and asked the Holy Spirit to guide…
- Episode 198: The Key to More Vocations: Creating Safe Spaces for Faith to Flourish
* Why isn’t “promoting vocations” enough to help young people discover God’s call? * Because so many can’t even hear Him right now. Their faith feels distant, the noise of the world is loud, and what they crave most isn’t another program—i…
- Coach's Corner 24: When You’re Stuck at Step One
When the mission feels massive, how do you take the first step? We all feel the pressure. With souls on the line, it feels like we need big plans, big programs, big results. But what if the most fruitful thing you could do today was simply…
- BONUS: 3 Reasons You Should Join us at SEEK!
Imagine standing among thousands of faithful Catholics, voices lifted in prayer and praise. In that moment, you can feel the Church fully alive—young, reverent, and on fire for mission. In this short bonus episode, I share a personal story…
- Episode 197: Meet Your Neighbor in Their Mess: The Call to Parish Outreach
What does it really mean to love your neighbor—not just in theory, but in their mess? In this episode, I sit down with Austin Habash from Sent Evangelization, and we talk about what happens when we actually step out and meet people where t…
- Episode 196: The Quiet Crisis in Our Pews: Why Saving Marriages will Save the Faith
What if saving a marriage could save a soul? In this episode, I sit down with Jared Smyth from Communio a consultancy helping parishes build thriving marriage ministries. We talk about the quiet crisis unfolding in our parishes—and the inc…
- Episode 195: Evangelizing the Forgotten: Dcn. Al’s Story of Visiting the Imprisoned
How do you bring hope to someone who feels completely forgotten? In this powerful episode of EquipCast, Deacon Al Aulner opens a window into the emotional and spiritual struggles of incarcerated men—many of whom have never known love, stab…
- Coach's Corner 23: Why Your Parish's Small Groups Don't Last
What does it really take to spark a movement in your parish? Small groups are both easier—and more challenging—than we think. They’re not sustained by participants or materials alone, but by vision, culture, and structure. In this episode,…
- Episode 194: When Missionaries Stall-out: My Clear Path Talk at SEEK 2025
Why would a parish packed with on-fire disciples feel stagnant? You’d think that if you put a dozen former FOCUS missionaries in one parish, it would explode with fruitfulness—but almost nothing happened. The truth is, even the most passio…
- Episode 193: When Ordinary People Say Yes: The story of Seeking Truth Bible Study
What happens when you open the Bible and simply say “yes” to God? In this conversation with Sharon Doran, teaching director of Seeking Truth, you’ll hear how Scripture has the power to heal wounds, renew marriages, transform families, and…
- Episode 192: How to Lead Change Without Losing Your People
* How do you lead change when you don’t know where you are going (yet)? * Today I sit down with Brian Miller, a change management expert from Coach Approach Ministries, to talk about adaptive change. Adaptive change is when you know someth…
- Episode 191: Real Christian Unity: How to Have Ecumenical Conversations with More Mercy Apostolate
Can real friendship heal division in the Church? When I sit with John 17, I’m struck that He was praying for a unity that’s visible, relational, and compelling—a unity that makes the world stop and notice that He was sent by the Father. Th…
- How to Choose (Part 4): Relational Outreach
What if your parish’s most “welcoming” events are actually pushing people away? In this episode, I sit down with the team to unpack the surprising truth about relational outreach—and why it’s often the last step parishes build, even though…
- How to Choose (Part 3): Faith Formation
_What if your parish’s faith formation is creating consumer Catholics instead of disciples?_In this episode of EquipCast, I sit down with my team to unpack what faith formation is really supposed to do—and why so many parishes get stuck. W…
- How to Choose (Part 2): Evangelization Formation
What if the biggest thing holding your parish back isn’t a lack of programs—but a lack of missionary disciples? In this episode, I sit down with my team to explore a step in parish life that often gets skipped: evangelization formation. We…
- How to Choose (Part 1): Conversion Moment
Need help choosing steps on the Clear Path of Discipleship that fit your community? Today, we dive into the heart of missionary transformation: the conversion moment. I sit down with my team to unpack why these moments matter—and how they’…
- Coach's Corner 22: The Parish Pope Francis Dreamt of
What if our parish wasn’t just a place we come to—but a place we’re sent from? That’s the vision: parishes as missionary outposts, where we’re formed, equipped, and fired up to bring Jesus to the world around us. Imagine a community where…
- Episode 186: From Pew to Purpose: How to Live the Apostolate You Were Made For
What’s at stake if we stay busy in church but miss our calling in the world? It’s easy to think serving at church—teaching, volunteering, helping with Mass—is the main way lay people live out their faith. But here’s the truth: our primary…
- Episode 185: Hispanic Ministry: The gift your parish needs
Could Hispanic spirituality be the gift your parish needs? In this episode, I sit down with Deacon Gregorio Elizalde, who leads Hispanic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Omaha. We talk about what really makes Hispanic ministry tick—and spoi…
- Coach's Corner 21: Hope – The Church’s Key to Renewal
What if real cultural change is just 15% away—and we’re closer than we think? In this Coach’s Corner, I’m diving into something that’s been really stirring in my heart: hope. Not the wishful-thinking kind, but the kind that’s born from rep…
- Episode 184: When God asks, how do you answer?—The Power of “Yes” with Christina Semmens
Is it possible that your biggest step in faith begins with just saying yes—even before you know where it’ll lead? Saying yes to God, even when you don’t know all He’s asking, is about trusting the One who’s asking. It’s not about having th…
- Episode 183: Charisms in the Chaos: How a Parish Community Mobilized After a Tornado
Can something as simple as kindness really change someone's view of God? Simple acts of love and kindness are how Jesus shows up in people’s lives. When someone feels seen, heard, and cared for—especially in their mess or suffering—it soft…
- Coach's Corner 20: Healthy Roots Equal Abundant Fruits – Church Growth Explained
What’s the one thing that can produce lasting fruit in our parish ministries? If we want to see real growth in areas like attendance, vocations, and community life, we must focus on making and maturing disciples. There are no shortcuts—sup…
- Episode 182: Connect Heaven to Earth’s Ordinary Moments with Fr. Micael Voithofer
What if everyday moments—like washing dishes or sitting in traffic—could actually connect you to heaven? In this episode, we’re diving into what it really means to live into your identity as a beloved son or daughter of God. We’ll chat abo…
- Episode 181: The Four Ways Forward: Becoming an Apostolic Parish in a Post-Christian World with Susan Windley-Daoust
Parish renewal is the buzzword of the moment—and with it comes an overwhelming array of resources and ministries. So how do you cut through the noise to find what will truly help your parish move forward? In today’s episode, I talk with Su…
- Episode 180: Front Porch Missionaries: What if you never had to leave your home to go on mission?
What if changing the world started with your dinner table? Today, I sit down with Ennie Hickman, co-founder of the Delray Collective, an organization dedicated to equipping people to be ordinary missionary disciples in their everyday lives…
- Coach's Corner 19: Four Metaphors for a Clear Path of Discipleship
Have you ever thought about how discipleship is like a school, a training table, or even an operating system? Probably not—but I love a good metaphor (maybe too much!). In this episode, I share four powerful ways to think about building a…
- Welcome to the EquipCast
Sharing your Catholic faith with family and friends can sometimes feel daunting. Where do I start? How do I make an impact? Welcome to EquipCast, a weekly podcast from the Archdiocese of Omaha. We want to support your faith journey and equ…
- Episode 179: The secret to getting more volunteers with John Poitevent from Great Catholic Parishes
Why is it so hard to get more volunteers? The same 10% of parishioners seem do 90% of the work. The key to changing this isn’t just recruiting more volunteers—it’s making disciples. People step up when they feel seen, invited, and part of…
- Episode 178: Measuring Faith: How Data and Devotion Are Revitalizing Sacred Heart Parish
What does it take to build a thriving, faith-filled parish? In this episode, I sit down with Father Jamie Zarse, pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Shawnee, Kansas, to unpack his vision for renewing his parish—starting with a team of prayer…