Salted Carmel Podcast: Recent Episodes
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Everyone has an inspiring witness! Our Lady of Mount Carmel is giving our parishioners a chance to share their unique witness with the world. Tune in to hear about their struggles, triumphs, and, ultimately, their path to Jesus.
Thank you to our many Salted Carmel listeners! David and JoDee, along with the OLMC Staff, have decided to change the mission of the Salted Carmel Podcast. Therefore, we will be taking a break from publishing episodes and will update you all in the future!
In the meantime, any one of our 91 outstanding interviews! Starting with Fr. Richard!
Sean gives us an amazing and vulnerable testimony. He discusses how joining the Antioch community at OLMC helped him create a personal relationship with Christ; however, going to college caused him to fall away and become addicted to worldly things. Having a loving community is important for us when it comes to facing our challenges!
Grace is wise beyond her years and gives us a great view of her faith life. She was greatly impacted by her experiences with Antioch, our youth ministry program. Since then she has dived deeper into her faith and she is only a senior in High School! Praise God for her life.
Amy speaks about the many ways the Lord has slowly pulled her closer to Himself. She has been given several crosses but trusts deeply in the Lord.
When was the last time you were thankful for your crosses?
Clare was raised with strong faith role models, but like many of us, she would simply "check the boxes" of her Catholic faith. Going through Christ Renews His Parish changed her and her husband's life.
Praise God for her "yes". When was the last time you went on a retreat?
Carolyn gives us a vulnerable view of her life. She shows how the Lord has worked through her painful childhood and struggles as a single teenage mother. Her story demonstrates the power of prayer, God the Father's love, and how to use your gifts to help others!
Kathleen speaks about how Jesus drew her to himself through low moments in her life and through retreats she has been on. She now is using her gifts as a publisher of two local Catholic magazines called Carmel Parish Neighbors East and Carmel Parish Neighbors West.
If you would like to know more you can check out her website. https://www.decidedexcellence.com/
Dr. Sri's second talk given at OLMC on December 1. Our mission is "to make disciples of all nations." We should know how to live out our discipleship!
Dr. Sri came to our parish on December 1 to speak about his book A Biblical Walk Through the Mass.
The words, the gestures, and the rituals of the Mass are rich in meaning. Everything we say and do in the Liturgy is steeped in biblical language. A Biblical Walk Through the Mass explores the extraordinary biblical roots of the Liturgy and reveals what it all means and why it all matters. This fascinating tour of the Mass will renew your faith and deepen your love for and devotion to the Holy Eucharist.
Katie is full of joy and loves her job here at OLMC! She joins us to discuss how her community and her own children continue to lead her closer and closer to Christ.
Gina was reignited in her faith through her husband's conversion and through her experiences at Cursillo retreats.
The call to action for this week's episode is to attend the same retreat with your spouse sometime this year. If you do not have a spouse, simply schedule time for attending a retreat! You won't regret it!
Liesel joins us to discuss her journey into RCIA and about her faith life. She is quite vulnerable in this interview, and by doing so reveals her relationship with God!
Lori joins us to share her vulnerable testimony full of wisdom and advice! She discusses her family's struggle with alcohol and how the peace of the Church helped her find God's path.
If you are struggling, know that you are not alone. Learn more about Alcoholics Anonymous at aa.org
Emily fell in love with the faith through a youth group program at St. Meinrad, and from that moment on, she said "yes" to the Lord. Jesus slowly led her to lead and teach others about the faith! Emily speaks about the importance of hospitality and of constantly learning more about the faith.
Hannah has a two-part testimony! She talks about how she became Christian and then later how she converted to Catholicism. Her story is full of honesty and wisdom!
Sr. Mary Madeline is a Dominican Sister of the Congregation of St. Cecilia. She has offered retreats and conference talks across the United States, Canada, Italy, and Australia. Sister earned her doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
Fr. Bill Miscamble is a priest in the Congregation of Holy Cross and a professor of history at the University of Notre Dame. He is a well-regarded speaker, including the Notre Dame Commencement (2003). An accomplished author, he is a recipient of the Harry S. Truman Book Award (1992).
On October 10, Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher gave this talk at OLMC about God's plan and the importance of keeping Jesus Christ at the center of your life.
We will continue to bring you the October Supper Sunday talks! Next week, Fr. Wilson Miscamble will talk about American Catholicism: JFK & Vatican to the Present.
Fr. Denis Robinson's talk from our October 2021 Sunday Supper series. He teaches us how to build virtuous habits, build a prayer life, and be brave when it comes to sharing our faith.
He is full of wisdom! Even if you went to the talk it is worth another listen to learn more.
Ann shares some of the challenges that helped lead her closer to God. She learned how to pray through a 54-day Rosary novena! Ann loves to learn more about the Faith and highly encourages everyone to actually investigate it.
She mentions the All Souls' Day indulgence and how it impacted her life. Read her reflection here.
Rafik shares his life journey with us and how the Christ Renews His Parish retreat changed his life. He continues to give many lessons and stories throughout his time as a disciple!
This week, simply share your faith and joy with someone in your life. It can be a big or small moment.
Longtime parishioner Jim Buzzelli joins us to explain how Cursillo retreats and Bible studies helped him discover Christ. Although these things helped, the aspect of Jim's life that sustains him is the Christian community that the Lord has given him.
The call to action for this week is to challenge others to improve in their faith: invite them to a Bible study or ask them a deeper question about their faith.
Scott shares two moments that impacted his faith life: how he miraculously survived a car crash and how his wife, Molly (Episode 62), helped ignite his drive to serve the Lord.
Our call to action this week is to be present in each moment and say "yes" to what the Lord wants you to do.
Dominic shares his testimony and all the wisdom that comes with it! From joining seminary at 17 to now living out his marriage, the Lord revealed - and is revealing - many lessons through many moments.
Our call to action from Dominic's story is to create a regular routine, build virtuous habits, and get out of our comfort zones.
Megan speaks about how solitude and nature brought her closer to God. Two notable moments in the episode are her viral blog post and her experience with cancer. According to Megan, the Lord was giving her a mission with her cancer.
Megan's Viral Blog Post
OLMC and Guerin Catholic Grad Matthew Godfrey shares his journey in the faith! His story bears witness to the necessity of authentic friendship, vibrant communities, and Christ-centered relationships. He longs to bring virtuous friendship and accountability to the men at IUPUI as a FOCUS missionary. Our call to action is to think about accountability in our lives. Who holds us to higher standards and how can we hold others to those same standards?
Reiley Godfrey, née Harrington, joined us before her marriage to discuss her conversion story at Guerin Catholic and how she is continuing to work in the Lord as a FOCUS missionary.
Our call to action this week inspired by Reiley's story is hospitality. We challenge you to spend some extra time with a friend or family member this week!
Bill and Kris give us an inside look into their faith lives and marriage. The Lord led them through friends and prayer to start The O'Conner House, a nonprofit that provides a home for homeless pregnant women and their children.
Come listen to this amazing couple and their story!
Listen to Steve's powerful testimony centered around a Eucharistic miracle. Praise God for Steve's life and how the Lord has shaped it for His mission.
When was the last time you had a conversation with the Lord?
Our summer seminarian, Jordan Boone, joined us before he left to discuss his conversion from Quakerism to Catholicism. One simple thing that radically changed his life was a crucifix in a doctor's office. His story speaks of his drive for knowledge and truth! Through his readings and investigation into the Catholic faith, he fell in love.
When was the last time you researched something about your faith?
Thomas Gallagher and David give the basics of sharing your testimony! When you look back at your life, you see all the places where the Lord was leading you. By preparing your testimony and sharing it with others, you evangelize and become closer to Jesus!
When was the last time you shared your testimony with others?
Our first married couple, Brent and Dee, come on together to discuss their recent conversion to Catholicism! The main catalyst for their conversion was their own daughter's conversion. (Episode 19: Laila Dilts)
They learned to explore, search for the truth, and have found the path where the Lord wanted them to go. When is the last time you researched or learned more about your faith?
Cradle Catholic Jane Swidan discovered her faith through community and a small group at a Protestant parish. But she realized that she needed to get involved and bring community to her Catholic Church! Come listen to the rest of her story and how it happened.
What gifts did the Lord give you? How are you using them?
Long-time parishioner and big-time hugger, Kayser Swidan, explains how he encountered Jesus, joined OLMC, and got involved with the music ministry. He shares great stories and several nuggets of wisdom!
As our parish family prays a Rosary Novena in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (local solemnity on July 18, 2021), Thomas Gallagher and David Koch wanted to give you some of their thoughts on how to pray the Rosary well! We hope you will learn something new about this beautiful prayer.
Please join us in saying the Rosary for our Church!
Louis, our High School Ministry Director, gives us a glimpse into his conversion and experience with all his years at OLMC! Come hear about how the Lord has worked in his life and all the words of wisdom Lou shares with us.
Molly, like many, rediscovered her faith through attending a CRHP weekend, but she did not start learning about her faith until she realized that she couldn't spread the "blanket" or comfort of the faith to others. Therefore, she made it her goal to continually learn more and dive deeper into our rich faith so she can share it with others!
When was the last time you intentionally learned about our Faith?
Fr. Dan has been a priest for 39 years! Listen to how Jesus brought him on this journey and shaped who he is today. He humbly shares great nuggets of wisdom with us that are worth learning well!
Denise tells us how she came back to the faith and how she met Deacon Paul. She shares how her involvement in the Church has continued to bring her life!
What was the last thing that gave you life?
Angela, our Communications Director, gives you an inside look into her faith story. Listen to how she struggled to love herself until God's mercy through Reconciliation reawakened her faith!
When was the last time you went to Confession?
Long-time parishioner Pat Bishara joins us to discuss her walk through her life in the parish. She is overwhelmed with her many blessings and especially her family!
How have you loved your family well this last week?
Jaclyn's faith was awakened throughout her life through the use of her family. Her husband challenged her to learn more about her faith and eventually converted to Catholicism himself!
Listen to how Laura's journey deeper into her faith dramatically changed her identity and relationship with her family. She loves to continually grow in her faith and highly encourages others to keep developing their relationship with Jesus and with others.
How have you grown closer to God this week?
Deanne discusses her conversion from Greek Orthodox to Catholicism. Mary, along with the Holy Spirit and Jesus, led her through several trials. These trials have given her deep love and appreciation for treating the body like a temple.
How have your respected your own body recently? What can you change?
Get to know our new Director of Evangelization, Thomas! Hear how God used retreats to aid his journey through college to seminary and then to marriage! Praise God for his life.
When was the last time you went on retreat?
Archana speaks about her conversion from the Sikh faith to Catholicism. Her conversion was strongly guided by her family and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She'll often boast that "Mary has her back!"
Listen to this great story about willingness and openness to the Lord. May it inspire us to do the same.
JoDee gets vulnerable with us and shares her faith story! Come listen to how Jesus used her family and community to grow her faith life.
Have you led your family closer to the Lord lately?
Jonathan speaks about his experience growing closer to Jesus Christ through a faith-filled family and the community here at OLMC. Now he is passionate about authentic masculinity and leading men closer to the Lord, including his sons! He explicitly does this by helping facilitate Exodus 90.
How are you actively improving yourself? Ask the Lord where he wants you to go!
Pam was going through the motions growing up as a cradle-Catholic. Her conversion came through her time at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and being involved with the Frassati ministry. Her story speaks to the uniquely personal way the Lord speaks to us all!
How has the Lord spoken to you this week?
Chuck discusses the many turning points of his life and how Jesus has shown him what is truly important in this life. His story highlights:
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The need to continually grow in your faith
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Personal tragedies can be gifts
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Small things done consistently are better than large things done intensely.
Through devotion to prayer and a great experience through CRHP, the Lord has greatly impacted Mary's life. She is quite grateful for the close community here at OLMC.
Here is a special prayer close to her heart
While he was here, our Parish Mission speaker, Jim Beckman, stopped by to give us his most recent conversion moment. Just speaking about it fills him with emotion. You'll also hear some wisdom not shared at the mission!
Abby Ferriette tells us about her path from the Methodist Church into the Catholic Church. Thinking back on her life, she realized that the Lord used her friends and family to slowly reveal himself to her!
When is the last time you looked back on your life? Who has the Lord used to bring you closer to him?
Elyse Cloran said that she does not have one "a-ha" conversion moment, but she has a million little God moments in her life. She joined us to share a few!
The Lord is always there maybe we should try to recognize Him in the little things!
Miranda, the wife of Sean Armie (Ep 37), joined us this week to add more details to their marriage faith testimony and her own personal journey. Her story highlights having faith throughout the darkness, patience, and the immense power of prayer!
When is the last time you have prayed for others in your life to experience God's love?
Tristan joins us this week to speak about how the Lord has worked immensely in his life through beauty. He also credits his faith-filled teachers and schools as being instrumental in his faith. Now he has the opportunity to teach at Guerin Catholic!
What was the last beautiful thing you have seen that has reminded you of God?
Long-time parishioner Meredith Marrs discusses how God used his wife and son as catalysts for his conversion to the Catholic Faith, and how the CRHP gifted him an amazing community of men. Meredith is a wealth of advice and knowledge for anyone who is at OLMC!
When was the last time you spent time with your faith community?
The Lord kickstarted Lynne's faith by asking her, "What are you waiting for?" She started diving deep into her prayer life and faith but it was all private, internal, and unsustainable. Then, she was invited many times to a Cursillo Retreat, and she finally agreed.
What are you waiting for? Let Jesus love you.
The joyful Ken Pack joined us this week to discusses his conversion, his family, and his journey with God. Ken shares that we are never alone in the world!
If you are feeling alone and isolated, remember that you have a faith community and a God who loves you!
Gary was blessed with a strong faithful family that helped guide and embolden him in his faith. Though, like many, he hid his faith from family and friends. With the help of his wife and children, he has been able to wear his faith on his sleeve.
His story is a wonderful example of strong faithful families leading their children and later generations closer to heaven. When is the last time you spoke to your family members about your faith? When is the last time you prayed with your family?
Learn more about the co-host of the show, David Koch, as he gives us a glimpse into his own faith life! He discusses his journey in and out of the seminary and how he has needed sacrifice for others in order to be fulfilled by the faith.
When is the last time you sacrificed for your spouse, family, or your friends?
Sean Armie joins this week to discuss his many challenges with accepting the faith and how Jesus used his wife and others to help Sean through the deep depression he felt. He was encouraged to go experience Jesus through CRHP and was disillusioned from his materialistic worldview.
Jill Rund joined us this week to discuss her journey from being a Catholic rooted in her faith, to a nominal Catholic, then back to an earnest faith! She talks about her struggles with relativism in an "accepting" and "intellectual" world. Listen to how the Lord kept slowly pulling Jill back to Himself, especially through Christ Renews His Parish.
When is the last time you attended a retreat? We all need to spend time focusing on our relationship with Jesus!
Aurelia joined us this week to speak about her personal journey towards Christ. She is a daughter of the parish and getting her master's degree in theology at Notre Dame! Throughout all the ups and downs of her life, she has the faith that God never abandoned her.
Deacon Paul joins us to tell his rich testimony. His journey is a true testament showing how the Lord can take you exactly where you need to be if you just authentically follow Christ. It starts one day at a time.
What does Jesus want you to do today?
The catalyst for Fr. James De Oreo's faith comes from the question, "If God is the most important thing in the universe shouldn't the time we spend with Him reflect that?" He talked about his journey to the priesthood and how he ended up in this diocese. His episode is full of impactful spiritual insights and is worth a listen!
Rex, our long-time Music & Liturgy Director, joins us to describe his expansive journey with Christ. He noted how "God writes straight with crooked lines," which could not be more true when hearing his story.
When is the last time you have discerned God's will for your life?
Ever feel like you are walking in the desert, isolated and empty? Troy explains his experience with the desert and how Jesus has slowly lead him to the Oasis.
Have you turned to the Lord in the midst of pain? Say thank you to Jesus who is always with you.
Parishioner and now college missionary, Gabe McHaffie, shares how the Lord prodded his heart through family struggles and sincere prayerful moments. He slowly grew in the desire to help college students find their identity as a "beloved son or daughter of Christ."
Do you know what your true identity is? What defines your life?
James, the new Assistant Director of the Merciful HELP Center, joined us to share his impressive testimony! He went from being nominally Catholic to seminary and now is engaged to be married. His story highlights discernment, patience, and the importance of listening in evangelization and prayer.
When is the last time you stopped and listened to the Lord?
Long-time parishioner Bonnie Simandle joined JoDee and our guest co-host, Tom Ponchak, to share her path towards Christ. At an early age, she learned quickly how much Jesus loved her in Sunday School but was an Evangelical. Then Jesus slowly led her to the Catholic faith while testing her in the desert and placing the right people in her life. She is an amazing example of choosing faith instead of fear.
Have you been living in fear or trusting in Jesus?
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Lisa Ponchak to go through her journey from disbelief, to tirelessly volunteering for ministries, to finally just being present with the Lord. She has the heart to evangelize and to spread Jesus' love to everyone. She has her own blog and videos to help lead others to Christ now! Check out the links below.
Blog: beautifulthorns.com
YouTube Channel: bit.ly/purpleyak
Purple Yak Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/917765055405299/?ref=share
Purdue Senior and former Guerin Catholic Student, Will Young, joined us this week. He shares how Jesus slowly drew him closer to himself through his community, family, and experiences at Mass.
Have you been praying the Mass well recently? Or just going through the motions?
Our guest this week has been known for her serving heart and spirit of hospitality. Maria joins us to discuss how Jesus pursued her throughout her life. Through her children and friendships, Jesus continues to lead and draw her closer to Himself!
Who in your life has brought you closer to God? Have you talked to them in a while?
Growing up, Jeff lived a secular life until he met his wife, Shari. He is no stranger to tragedy and bad days but still boasts his life's motto, "Nothing bad has ever happened to me." Listen to Jeff's story to see how he embodies being grateful, no matter what!
Have you been grateful for your struggles recently? Do you trust that Jesus can positively use them?
Nancy joined us to discuss how Jesus has constantly been walking with her and upholding her throughout her many ups and downs! She speaks about the major role forgiveness has played in her life and how she has needed to forgive others.
Do you have anyone that you still need to forgive? Pray about it this week!
Our summer seminarian Dcn. Thornton discusses his conversion experience and how attractive the Church is. He explains beautifully how the solution to the lack of meaning in modern culture is found in the living, breathing organism called the Catholic Church.
Dr. Elliot Bedford joined us this week to discuss his life with Christ and give amazing advice. He explains how his desire to intellectually discuss God with others and his wife were pivotal in making him a man of God.
When is the last time you said "yes" to Jesus?
Rebecca joins us this week to describe the amazing journey Jesus led her on. She describes her early love of prayer and almost having an instinctual mission of sharing her faith!
Laila joins us to describe her conversion experience through the Guerin Catholic community. Her foundation led her parents to their own conversions and helped when she attended a Protestant college! Check out her blog at livingbeloved.com.
Have you shared your faith life with a friend recently?
Fr. Christian DeCarlo discusses how Jesus has pulled him into the priesthood by working through others in his life and, especially, through daily prayer.
Have you been making time for daily prayer lately?
JoDee's son Kip joined us this week to discuss how he was called out of mediocrity and complacency to live a life in Christ. He would describe his life in Christ as being blessed with abundant joy and virtuous friendships.
Has mediocrity and laziness crept into your life during this pandemic? Talk to Jesus about it!
Our own Leighton Drake discusses how joy and beauty, especially through the form of books and a mission trip, helped him to convert his heart to accept that God loves him as a beloved son. He also shares his realization that creating a relationship with Jesus in an ongoing process, not just one moment.
Have you been keeping up with your relationship with Jesus?
Craig discusses how trust, openness, and, most importantly, mercy led him to grow into the man Jesus wants him to be.
Vicki was fixated on success and climbing the corporate ladder, but through several challenges and an invitation, she now sees how much Jesus is needed in her life!
Caroline's story highlights discernment, fighting for a community of friends, and becoming who you were created to be. Learn how she became alive in her faith!
Son of the parish Fr. Josh Janko discusses how Jesus led him to the priesthood and how he is now living out his priesthood as a military chaplain.
Join us in thanking God for his priesthood and praying for more great priests!
Tom, our Director of Adult Faith Formation, goes through developing a personal relationship with Jesus and learning what it means to be a Christian through the Holy Spirit.
Christine explains how searching for the truth and great friends has led her deeper into her faith. She is thankful for her memory so she can recall how well Jesus has loved her when times get tough. What are you thankful for?
Lifelong parishioner Justin Griswold talks about his adventure of a life with Christ. Community and forgiveness lead him to live for Jesus, and now he longs to lead others to Jesus through fun and fellowship.
Former parishioner Anne Slamkowski discusses her conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism and how her family inspired her to take her faith seriously.
Jeanne talks about the importance of discernment, patience, and staying on God's path in college. (Interview was filmed via Zoom)
Have a listener question? Email saltedcarmel@olmc1.org
Jayne Slaton shares her wisdom about vulnerability, humility, and service learned through her many encounters with Christ and those around her.
Tim, OLMC School Vice-Principal, recounts his continued search for finding his identity in Christ.
Have a listener question? Email saltedcarmel@olmc1.org
Ray describes how the Christ Renews His Parish retreat and the friends he made after the process were pivotal to his faith journey.
Have a question for our hosts about anything? Email saltedcarmel@olmc1.org
Denise, former OLMC Adult Faith Formation Director, discusses the joy she has experienced that comes with doing the Lord's will.
Sadie describes growing up at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the challenges of living out her faith in college.
Fr. Richard discusses how his travels in Europe led him to Christ and ultimately finding his vocation.
Have a listener question? Email saltedcarmel@olmc1.org