Universal Voices: Recent Episodes

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In this episode of Universal Voices Alissa welcomes Alysse Gear, longtime co-editor of Common Horizon, for a special conversation. Common Horizon is From Here Media's deep dive into Catholic Social Teaching and the pair talk about some exciting news regarding the beloved project.

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Susi Torrico

Susana "Susi" Torrico nació y creció en el noroeste de Indiana antes de mudarse al sur de California a los 19 años, junto con sus padres y su hermana, para estar más cerca de su familia materna. Como madre de un hijo de 20 años con autismo, se ha convertido en una firme defensora de los niños y jóvenes con discapacidades del desarrollo, alentando a las familias a buscar el apoyo y los recursos que necesitan.

Católica comprometida, Susi participa activamente en su parroquia y tiene una profunda pasión por hacer de la Iglesia un lugar más acogedor para las personas con discapacidad intelectual y del desarrollo. Después de conocer SPRED a través de una colega, participó en la formación de SPRED ofrecida por la Arquidiócesis de Chicago en agosto de 2024.

SPRED (Desarrollo Religioso Especial, por sus siglas en inglés) es un programa parroquial que ayuda a niños, jóvenes y adultos con discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo a crecer en su fe. A través de una relación personal con catequistas capacitados, los participantes experimentan un profundo sentido de pertenencia y se integran plenamente a la vida, la liturgia y los sacramentos de la Iglesia Católica.

Para conocer más sobre este programa, haz clic aquí: SPRED.

Show Notes (English)

A Church for All

Susi Torrico

Susana "Susi" Torrico was born and raised in Northwest Indiana before moving to Southern California at the age of 19 with her parents and sister to be closer to her mother's side of the family. As the mother of a 20-year-old son with autism, she has become a dedicated advocate for children and young adults with developmental disabilities, encouraging families to seek the support and resources they need.

A committed Catholic, Susi is actively involved in her parish and has a deep passion for making the Church more welcoming to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. After learning about SPRED through a colleague, she participated in SPRED formation offered by the Archdiocese of Chicago in August 2024.

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Please be advised: This episode references child loss.

Season 8 of Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Monica Garcia to the podcast. The two women talk of Stephen, Monica's beloved son, their family, and their parish community. They enter into sacred conversation around the loss of a child, walking in and with grief and love that persists. They also talk about:

• Parenting teens and young adults.
• Being a dreamer and a servant.
• Having a hungry heart as a Christian
• Stephen as firecracker and as guiding light.
• Grief for each person in a family.
• How the Garcia's parish showed up in their grief, and why.
• Intentionally grieving as family.
• Red Bird Ministries.

Find out more about Red Bird Ministries here.

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Monica Garcia is a Catholic convert, wife, mother of seven, and grandmother of one from Abilene, Texas, whose faith has been deeply shaped by life’s joys and its sorrows. She is the director of clinical education in speech-language pathology at a private university. A self-proclaimed enneagram 3, she makes sure to keep her free time full with as many hobbies as possible, including reading, a side photography gig, and journaling. Deeply rooted in her parish community, Monica is passionate about service to the Church and helping others intentionally weave their faith into everyday life.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Katie Holler and Viridiana Herrera of The Dorothea Project. The Dorothea Project is a community of Catholic women formed by Catholic Social Teaching, called to speak truth and defend human dignity. The three women spend time talking about the beauty and power of women coming together to act and move in the defense of human dignity. They also chat about:

• Motherhood.
• The power of belonging and connection.
• Vidi's gift of gab. :)
• The Holy Spirit present in connection between persons.
• The longing to be seen, known and safe.
• How The Dorothea Project began.
• CST as a best kept secret.
• The beauty and variety of gifts, talents and backgrounds of the women that are drawn into The Dorothea Project.
• "On Earth As it is in Heaven.
• The beauty of CST being rooted in the tenets of the Catholic faith and The Gospel.
• Women Leading.

Find out more about The Dorothea Project here or find them on Instagram here.

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Katie Holler is, in no particular order, a community organizer, a wife, a mom, and a Gilmore Girls enthusiast. She currently organizes moms for universal childcare and founded The Dorothea Project to organize Catholic women to take action in defense of human dignity rooted in Catholic Social Teaching. She also teaches social work part time at Franciscan University. In her very limited free time, Katie likes baking, listening to podcasts, and dreaming of a more just society.

Viridiana Herrera Solis is a catechist and Catholic Youth Minister in Bakersfield, California. She has a background in tech and data, but is currently pursuing a degree in Speech Language Pathology. Within the Dorothea Project, Viridiana serves on the Intercessory Prayer Team and Social Media Team. In her spare time she loves to write, make candles, create small sculptures, and create prayerful retreats for her friends.

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Alfredo Flores nació en Cancún, Quintana Roo, donde creció rodeado de una familia y de una formación que lo guiaron por el camino del servicio. Más tarde, se mudó a la Ciudad de México y, gracias a la influencia de los salesianos, creció y maduró en la fe cristiana. Es licenciado en marketing, una carrera que le ha permitido desarrollar habilidades organizativas, comunicativas y de liderazgo a través de diversas organizaciones de servicio en su parroquia. En ellas ha encontrado comunidad y sanación para su depresión.

Puedes encontrarlo en Facebook, @AlfredoFloresH, e Instagram, @Alfredofh.

Alfredo Flores

Healing and Serving in Community

Alfredo Flores was born in Cancún in the state of Quintana Roo, where he grew up surrounded by a family and a formation that guided him along the path of service. Later, he moved to Mexico City and, through the influence of the Salesians, grew in his Christian faith. He holds a bachelor's degree in marketing, a career that has allowed him to develop organizational, communication, and leadership skills through various service organizations at his parish. Through them, he has found community, but also healing for depression.

You can find him at: Facebook, @AlfredoFloresH, and Instagram, @Alfredofh.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Karina Breceda. Alissa and Karina discuss Fr. Rick Thomas whose case for canonization was recently opened. Fr. Rick was a central figure in Karina's life and she credits him for leading her to the work with migrants that she now does. The two chat about the rich community Fr. Thomas shepherded and how his model of prayer, joy, obedience, and service left a lasting impression. In this episode you'll also hear the two talk about:

• The blessing of place.
• The multiplication of Christmas Dinner.
• The miracle of a dump that becomes a "city on a hill."
• Being crazy for Jesus.
• The only thing that makes sense.
• Fr. Thomas' prophetic witness in creating a youth center.
• Being the 2025 version of the work of the Gospel.
• Being one day saints like Father Thomas.

The video we reference (in which Father Thomas is interviewed about Christmas Dinner can be found here or by searching "The Glory of God" - Juarez Full Length on Youtube.

Karina Breceda is a Fronteriza activist and cross-border advocate focusing on pro-life migrant work. She is Co-Founder and Director of Stela and Casa Maris, shelters located on both sides of the US/MX international border serving pregnant women and children seeking refuge.

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Nuestro presentador, Juan Carlos Hernández, regresa esta séptima temporada con más entrevistas en español.

Emmanuel Simental, abogado de profesión y nacido en el seno de una familia católica que le inculcó la fe y su amor por la Iglesia llevándolo a servir en diversos ministerios como monaguillo, catequista y coordinador, además de fomentar su formación en círculos de apologética y doctrina social y diplomados en diversas materias como Sagradas Escrituras, Música Sagrada y Derecho Canónico. Su vida de fe, la espiritualidad ignaciana y la búsqueda de una vida más saludable lo llevaron a fundar dos proyectos: Biciclub Católico, un grupo ciclista con enfoque espiritual, y Bici sin Fronteras, una iniciativa solidaria que dona bicicletas a quienes más las necesitan.

Encuéntralo en Instagram @biciclub.catolico.

Growing a Catholic Community on Wheels

Our host, Juan Carlos Hernández, returns this seventh season with more interviews in Spanish.

Emmanuel Simental, a lawyer by profession, was born into a Catholic family that instilled in him a faith and love for the Church, leading him to serve in various ministries as an altar boy, catechist, and coordinator, as well as encouraging his formation in circles of apologetics and social doctrine and diplomas in various subjects such as Sacred Scriptures, Sacred Music, and Canon Law. His life of faith, Ignatian spirituality, and search for a healthier lifestyle led him to found two projects: Biciclub Católico, a cycling group with a spiritual focus, and Bici sin Fronteras, a charitable initiative that donates bicycles to those who need them most.

Find him on Instagram @biciclub.catolico.

To ensure we can continue sharing the wisdom and faith of lay Catholics across the Universal Catholic Church, make your tax-deductible donation at fromheremedia.org/donate

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Universal Voices is back with an all new mini-series. This season we explore how different folks within the Universal Church are experiencing community within the Body of Christ. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Jessica Mendoza. Alissa and Jessica discuss, "Partners in the Gospel," currently taking place in the Archdiocese of Seattle. The two talk about:

• Why Partners in the Gospel came about and the hope behind it.
• The power of being intentional and careful with important things.
• The power of listening and responding.
• Practicing not bringing "serial consumerism" into parish life.
• Working together as the Body.
• Allowing ourselves to grieve loss or change.
• Bringing a lion's share of fraternal care to the table.

Jessica Mendoza was born and raised in the Seattle area but counts her roots in Michoacán México. Her works as a pediatric and neonatal physical therapist, and is also active in her parish, volunteering in high school youth ministry, parish leadership, and working alongside their companion parish in Guatemala. She also helps chair her Archdiocesan Disability Inclusion Ministry, so that people of all abilities are able to participate fully in the life of the Church. In her spare time Jessica loves reading, hiking around the beautiful Pacific Northwest scenery, and playing the flute in a community Wind Symphony.

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In this quick 10 minute episode, Alissa talks of a slight pivot in this, the 7th season of Universal Voices Podcast Miniseries. She talks unity but not uniformity, introduces a key scripture verse and expresses the hope that the podcast will continue to reflect both the hard and the hopeful of the experiences of faith.

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Miriam y José Manuel Tejeda son una pareja católica de la Ciudad de México cuya misión de vida nació bajo circunstancias desafiantes (pero también milagrosas), tras una enfermedad y 47 días en terapia intensiva en un hospital de los Estados Unidos. En este podcast, comparten su vida y cómo su misión se extiende no solo a los bebés por nacer, sino también a las mujeres que crían a esos niños.

Mater Filius (latín para Madre e Hijo/a), su ministerio, comenzó con una casa de acogida y refugio en la Ciudad de México y desde entonces se ha extendido a diez ciudades en México, con tres más en camino. El ministerio cuenta con tres casas en los Estados Unidos y cuatro más en América Latina.

Conoce más sobre su ministerio en www.materfilius.org.

From Death to a Mission for Life: Miriam and José Manuel Tejeda

Miriam and José Manuel Tejeda are a Catholic couple from Mexico City whose life's mission was born under challenging (but also miraculous) circumstances following an illness and 47 days in intensive care at a hospital in the United States. In this episode, they share about their lives and how their mission extends not only to the lives of babies but also to the women who raise those children.

Mater Filius (Latin for "Mother and Child"), their ministry, began with one house of welcome and refuge in Mexico City and has since expanded across Mexico to ten cities, with three more in development. The ministry has three houses in the United States and four across Latin America.

Learn more about their ministry at www.materfilius.org.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Alexander Walton. Alissa invites Alexander in to discuss his time in a Laudato Si' Fellowship Program through the National Religious Partnership for the Environment and the USCCB. The two talk of the program as well as a host of other topics including:

• Christ as the Morning Star.
• Grappling with our tradition as gift to the Church.
• Alexander's background in philosophy.
• The interconnectedness of all things.
• Pope Francis as conversation starter.
• Being a good neighbor as an extension of our citizenship.
• Learning and leaning into more than one thing.
• Hope.

Alexander Walton is an alumnus of Morehouse College, where he graduated with Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude honors while earning a Bachelor of Arts in political philosophy and early modern English literature. Walton has completed fellowships, attended seminars, and conducted research on political philosophy, theology, constitutional law, Shakespeare, and Milton at the University of Dallas, Yale Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, the Hertog Foundation, the Thomistic Institute, and the Dominican House of Studies. In Walton’s free time, he enjoys weight training, singing, and creative writing.

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Nacido en el seno de una familia católica en Monterrey, México, Diego Estrada comparte sobre un profundo encuentro con Dios cuando era adolescente. Después, la constante interacción con sacerdotes y seminaristas lo condujo al seminario. Actualmente es seminarista de la Diócesis de Austin en el estado de Texas en los Estados Unidos. Habla de los pasos graduales del discernimiento y de cómo busca seguir la voz de Dios en libertad y tomando como ejemplo a los santos. Sus santas favoritas son Santa Teresa del Niño Jesús y Santa Teresa de Ávila.

En Instagram lo puedes seguir en @tuvidaesincreible

The Gradual path of faith

Diego Estrada

Show notes (English)

Born into a Catholic family in Monterrey, Mexico, Diego Estrada shares a profound encounter with God that occurred during his teenage years. Later, his constant interaction with priests and seminarians led him to the seminary. He is currently a seminarian in the Diocese of Austin, in the state of Texas. He speaks about the gradual steps of discernment and how he seeks to follow God's voice in freedom, drawing on the example of the saints. His favorite saints are St. Thérèse of Lisieux and St. Teresa of Ávila.

You can follow him on Instagram at @tuvidaesincreible

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Deanna Johnston. Alissa and Deanna jump into a wide range of topics related to faith, marriage and family life including:

• Finding joy and peace in our own gifts and the gifts of others.
• Being rooted in our worth.
• NFP as gift and also as purifying cross.
• The Church as a place of joy.
• Honoring each family's story within our Church.
• The gift and value that every family brings to the Church.
• The School of Love.
• Accompanying families and encouraging them in their gifts.

Deanna Johnston is the Director of Family Life for the Diocese of Tyler. She has been married to her husband Michael for 11 years and they have 5 children between the ages of 2 and 10. Before coming to East Texas, Deanna worked in Pastoral Ministry at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City, Kansas. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Spanish from the University of Memphis and a Master of Arts in Theology from Newman University in Wichita. Deanna has been featured on EWTN News In Depth, Embodied Magazine, and was part of the U.S. Delegation to the World Meeting of Families in Rome in 2022.

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Mía Schroeder de Guadalajara, Jalisco México comparte sobre su las raíces de su fe y el sacrifico de su familia por la misma y como este ejemplo ha influido en su vida, carrera, y vocación. También habla su esperanza para las personas que busquen seguir sus pasos. Mía trabaja en los medios El Sembrador, Apostolicus 1370 AM y Fiat María (su proyecto), entre otros. La pueden seguir en Instagram: @mia_medios_28. Te invitamos a apoyar From Here Media haciendo un donativo en este enlace: fromheremedia.org/donate

Mía Schroeder: From Catholic Roots to a Mission in the Media

Mía Schroeder from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, shares the roots of her faith, the sacrifice her family made for their faith, and how this example has influenced her life, career, and vocation. She also speaks about her hopes for those who want to follow in her footsteps. Mía works in Catholic media, including El Sembrador, Apostolicus 1370 AM, and her project, Fiat María. You can follow her on Instagram: @mia_medios_28. We invite you to support From Here Media by donating at this link: fromheremedia.org/donate

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Lisa Scata. Lisa shares about her heart for finding place within a parish community. Alissa and Lisa dive into:

• Creating connections with people.
• The unity available to us in the Eucharist.
• Feelings around transitions.
• The sense of constancy parish life can provide.
• Being refined by community.
• How longing can be invitation.
• How what makes us come alive can lead to deeper community.

Lisa Scata is a mom, wife, Elementary teacher, and former Director of Children’s Ministry who lives in Columbia, Maryland. Originally from Rochester, New York, Lisa cherishes strong bonds with family and friends and considers many places to be home. Lisa has a passion for improving parish life and helping people connect with Jesus. She loves houseplants, puzzles, music, chocolate, Saints, and Sacraments, and is energized through inclusive spaces that help people feel known and seen.

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Nancy Rivera vive en la Florida con su esposo e hijos. Le apasiona crear un mundo más justo y pacífico. Le encanta viajar, explorar grandes ciudades, así como pueblos pequeños, también hacer amigos mientras descubre nuevos lugares. Más allá de sus actividades profesionales y personales, Nancy está dedicada a promover el cuidado de la creación y ayudar a los demás a alcanzar su máximo potencial. Ella confía en el llamado del Evangelio a santificar nuestra vida a través del amor y el servicio a los demás dentro de las situaciones más comunes.

Nancy comparte sobre:

• Su infancia en el campo de Puerto Rico
• La vida sencilla y formación de los hijos
• Cómo llego a la organización sin fines de lucro, CRS o Catholic Relief Services por su sigla en inglés.
• La santidad en la vida cotidiana

Haz clic aqui para conocer más sobre CRS.

A Heart for Holiness in Ordinary Life

Nancy Rivera lives in Florida with her husband and children. She is passionate about creating a more just and peaceful world. She loves to travel and explore big cities and small towns while also making friends and discovering new places. Beyond her professional and personal pursuits, Nancy is dedicated to promoting creation care and helping others reach their full potential. She trusts the call of the Gospel to sanctify our lives through love and service to others in the most ordinary situations.

Nancy shares about:

• Her childhood in the countryside of Puerto Rico
• The simple life and formation of children
• How she came to work for the non-profit organization, Catholic Relief Services or CRS.
• Sanctity in daily life

Click here to learn more about CRS.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Katie Prejean McGrady. Katie shares about her heart for the religious vocations of the Church and the joy found in loving and being loved by folks within the different callings. Katie and Alissa also chat about:

• The sacred middle, and the normal everyday Catholic
• Being invitational in how we live our faith
• The beauty of living an integrated faith
• The golden thread of connectivity within the Church
• Catholicism as who we are and what we do
• "Uncle" Tim Dolan
• How the different vocations within the Church need and compliment one another

Katie Prejean McGrady is a speaker, award-winning author, and host of The Katie McGrady Show on The Catholic Channel on Sirius XM. She hosts three podcasts: Ave Explores from Ave. Maria Press, Like a Mother with Our Sunday Visitor, and Family Mass Prep on Hallow, which she co-hosts with her husband Tommy. Katie serves as a member of the working group on youth. and young adult ministry for the USCCB. Katie has hosted the National Catholic Youth Conference and spoken at Steubenville Youth and Adult Conferences and around the country for over a decade. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with her husband and daughters, Rose and Clare.he Steubenville Youth and Adult Conferences. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana, with her husband and daughters, Rose and Clare.

Find our more about Katie's work on Facebook, Instagram, or her website.

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Socorro sirve como la presidenta en la mesa directiva de la Asociación Católica de Vida Familiar (CFLA por su sigla en inglés). Trabaja para la Diócesis de Kalamazoo desde noviembre de 2013, como Directora Asociada para la Vida Parroquial y Liderazgo Laico – Iglesia Doméstica.

Durante este tiempo ha trabajado diligentemente, tendiendo la mano y acompañando a individuos y familias en todo tipo de situaciones y niveles sociales. Ha buscado formar discípulos afectivos en el ministerio parroquial familiar para promover un sano ministerio familiar como Ecclesia domestica, tomando en serio y fielmente la familia, el matrimonio y la crianza de los hijos. Tiene estudios de posgrado en el Ministerio Pastoral con énfasis en la Nueva Evangelización del Seminario Mayor del Sagrado Corazón en Detroit, y trabajo de posgrado en educación bilingüe / bicultural. También recibió una licenciatura en Administración de la Universidad de Purdue.

Socorro comparte sobre:

• Su vida de joven, y el ejemplo de sus padres
• Su vida en varios lugares del mundo
• Su trabajo con jóvenes y familias
• Algunas experiencias de sanación que ha visto en su ministerio

Para conocer más sobre Socorro y su trabajo, búscala aquí: Federación para la Pastoral Familiar Hispana

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Socorro serves as the president of the Catholic Family Life Association’s (CFLA/NACFLM) board of directors. She has worked for the Diocese of Kalamazoo since November 2013 as the Associate Director for Parish Life and Lay Leadership—Domestic Church.

She has worked diligently during this time, reaching out and accompanying individuals and families in all situations and social levels. She works to form caring disciples in parish family ministry to promote a healthy family ministry as Ecclesia domestica to take family, marriage, and parenting seriously within the faith. She has graduate studies in Pastoral Ministry with an emphasis on the New Evangelization from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. She has done graduate work in bilingual/bicultural education. She holds a B.A. in Management from Purdue University.

Socorro shares about:

• Her life as a young woman and the example of her parents.
• Her life in various parts of the world
• Her work with youth and families
• Some of the healing experiences she has seen in her ministry.

To learn more about Socorro and her work, click Catholic Family Life Association.

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If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help us keep telling stories of Catholics living out their light in the world, consider making a one-time or reoccurring donation to From Here Media here.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Beth Lee and Jen Podichetty to chat about From Here's Field Trip to the National Eucharistic Congress in July. The three dive into:

• What each person was thinking/feeling headed into the Congress.
• What the experience of the Congress was like for each of them.
• Hope!
• Peace!
• Joy!
• Being a Eucharist-centered Church.
• The Syro-Malabar Rite they experienced.
• Sister Josephine, Gloria Purvis, and Cardinal Tagle.
• The power of belonging.
• Jesus as gift.
• Diversity and welcome.
• The power of a Church who doesn't shy away from the need for repentance.

Beth Lee is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She loves spending time outside with her family and working as a Physical Therapist. Jen Podichetty is from Portland, Oregon. She's a wife, mother, sister, daughter, and kindergarten teacher who loves growing and preserving food, hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and traveling to new places near and far.

This episode was brought to you through the generosity of From Here Media's incredible group of donors. You can help us continue sharing the wisdom, faith, and goodness found in the folks of the Universal Catholic Church by becoming one of our supporters. Head to fromheremedia.org/donate for more information.

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Nuestra conversación esta semana es con Verónica Brunkow. Ella es brasileña, una laica consagrada en el Regnum Christi desde hace 24 años. Ha dedicado 20 años a la formación y acompañamiento espiritual de los jóvenes del Regnum Christi en Brasil y México. Es misionera digital y desde 2018 realiza un proyecto de evangelización a través de las redes sociales. Actualmente trabaja en el Dicasterio de la Comunicación del Vaticano apoyando el proyecto “La Iglesia te escucha” dedicado a acompañar la Misión de la Iglesia en los ambientes digitales.

Ella fue formada en Educación y desarrollo por la la Universidad Anáhuac de México, en Ciencias Religiosas por la Pontificia Regina Apostolorum de Roma, con una Maestría en Ciencias de la Familia por el Pontificio Instituto Juan Pablo II de las Familias y Misionología por la Pontificia Universidad Gregoriana de Roma.

Vero comparte sobre:

• Su vida de joven, su conversión
• El camino a, y en la vida consagrada
• Su desarrollo en México y en Italia
• La pasión por la evangelización y como el mundo digital como es parte de la misión general de la Iglesia

Para conocer más sobre Vero, búscala en YouTube: @VeronicaBrunkow e Instagram: @verobrunkow

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Our conversation this week is with Veronica Brunkow. She is from Brazil and has been a consecrated laywoman in Regnum Christi for 24 years. She has dedicated 20 years to the formation and spiritual accompaniment of Regnum Christi youth in Brazil and Mexico. She is a digital missionary and, since 2018, has been carrying out an evangelization project through social media. She currently works in the Vatican Dicastery of Communication, supporting the project “The Church Listens,” which is dedicated to accompanying the Mission of the Church in digital environments.

She studied Education and Development at the Anáhuac University in Mexico, in Religious Sciences at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum in Rome, with a Master's degree in Family Sciences and Missiology from The John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

She shares about:

• Her life as a young woman and her conversion.
• The journey to and in the consecrated life
• Her development in Mexico and Italy
• Her passion for evangelization and how the digital world is part of the larger mission of the Church

To learn more about Vero, look her up on YouTube: @VeronicaBrunkow and Instagram: @verobrunkow.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Julie Walsh to share about her heart for forming a political conscience. This episode is packed with goodness as Julie shares her heart around what it is to integrate our moral and political lives. Julie and Alissa dive into:

• The value of time alone and time with people
• Thinking of politics in regards to how it helps us to relate to one another
• The Truth found in the Universal Catholic Church
• Helping to create welcome in our communities
• Politics as it relates to our spirituality
• Letting go of either/or thinking in favor of thinking critically
• The value of persuasion and political discussion when done in good will

Julie Varner Walsh’s life has always centered around politics and her Catholic faith, and that has made for some strange combinations. Raised in a politically-active Republican family, she worked mostly with Democrats when she was a lobbyist for the Catholic Church on poverty, immigration, and health care matters. Today she finds herself politically homeless, but not politically aimless. Julie has found purpose in encouraging people to look beyond labels, and to focus more on the moral implications of politics than the partisan horse race. Julie lives in Maryland with her husband and five children.

Instagram: Julievwalsh

Podcast: More Than Politics

Blog: These Walls

If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help us keep telling stories of Catholics living out their light in the world, consider making a one-time or reoccurring donation to From Here Media here.

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Voces Universales es parte de la serie de pódcasts Universal Voices de From Here Media. El presentador de los pódcasts en español es Juan Carlos Hernández. ¡Bienvenidos!

En este pódcast hablamos con Dolores Casteñeda, una residente del barrio La Villita en Chicago. Lucha por la paz y por compartir el amor de Dios con su prójimo aún bajo circunstancias dificles. Con su amiga Doris Hernández, crearon el grupo Padres Ángeles para responder a la violencia con amor y acoger a los jóvenes extraviados y a sus famliares.

Ella comparte sobre:

• La fuerza de su fe y el amor por su comunidad.
• Su trabajo con padres que han perdido un hijo debido a la violencia.
• Su lucha por empleos sanos y justos.

Haga clic aqui para leer más sobre el trabajo de Dolores y su amiga Doris.

Gracias por acompañarnos. Nos da mucho gusto que escuchen Voces Universales. Enviamos un saludo cálido a nuestros patrocinadores cuyo apoyo hace este trabajo posible. Para más información sobre la misión y visión de From Here Media o para formar parte de la lista creciente de patrocinadores, por favor visita fromheremedia.org.

Voces Universales is part of From Here Media's Universal Voices podcast series. The Spanish-language podcasts are hosted by Juan Carlos Hernandez. Welcome!

In this podcast, we speak with Dolores Castañeda, a resident of the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago. She works to build peace and share God's love with her neighbors, even under very difficult circumstances. With her friend Doris Hernández, they created Padres Ángeles, a parents’ group to respond to violence with love and to seek out errant youth and their families.

She shares about:

• The strength of her faith and the love she feels for her community.
• Her work with parents who have lost a child to violence.
• Her fight for safe jobs.

Click here to read more about the work of Dolores and her friend Doris.

Thank you for joining us. It gives us great pleasure to have you listen to Voces Universales. We send warm regards to our sponsors whose support makes this work possible. For more information about From Here Media's mission and vision or to join our growing list of sponsors, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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We are excited to offer this bonus episode in honor of YOU + Pentecost and are so grateful to our Guadalupe Circle Members who make things like this possible.

Guadalupe Circle is a small but mighty group of donors who give monthly to help sustain From Here and all we create.

We humbly ask you to prayerfully consider joining Guadalupe Circle and helping us to continue our mission of encouraging the lay Church as they seek to love God, Neighbor and Self!

Join today.

We hope you enjoy the deep and wide love and wisdom of Tina and Meg.

Thank you for being here!

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Lisa Gonzales to share about her heart for inclusion. This episode is packed with goodness as Lisa shares her heart around what it is to show love by including others. Listen in as Lisa and Alissa dive into:

• Being comfy in our own skin.
• Sharing joy so that people know it exists alongside the hard parts of life.
• FIT CHECKS!
• Being a welcoming place for people.
• Finding mercy through the Church.
• <3 Paloma Lucia <3
• The way including folks makes them feel loved and seen.
• Lisa's tips for how she thinks folks can better include families like hers.
• Spreading the gospel always, using few words.
• The beauty of trying to be more inclusion, even if it doesn't look perfect.

Lisa Gonzales embraces the beautiful chaos of motherhood with open arms. At 42, she's a married, homeschooling, proud FIlipino mama of 4 amazing kiddos, and a caregiver to one very rare girl. She share snippets of her family life and the fun and joy they have…even on the very hard days on her Instagram account, ourlittlestjourny. Lisa lives to encourage, support, and connect with others who need a little hope and a lot of love.

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Voces Universales es parte de la serie de pódcasts Universal Voices de From Here Media. El presentador de los pódcasts en español es Juan Carlos Hernández. ¡Bienvenidos!

En este pódcast hablamos con Adriana Elizabeth Castillo. Ella es de Ecuador y nos habla sobre su vida de inmigrante y como su abuela y un grupo misionero despertaron una conversión basada en el amor de nuestra madre María. Esta devoción despertó una devoción tan profunda que motivó la creación de el documental María, la Mujer más Empoderada de Todos los Tiempos sobre el impacto de la Virgen en la vida de seis personas.

Ella comparte sobre:

• Su vida de joven y su conversión.
• Por qué decidió hacer este documental.
• La esperanza que tiene para este documental y futuros proyectos.

La presentación de este documental está programada para Octubre 2024. Para más información sobre el documental, visita la cuenta de Instagram: @MARIA_LAMUJERMASEMPODERADA

Gracias por acompañarnos. Nos da mucho gusto que escuchen Voces Universales. Enviamos un saludo cálido a nuestros patrocinadores cuyo apoyo hace este trabajo posible. Para más información sobre la misión y visión de From Here Media o para formar parte de la lista creciente de patrocinadores, por favor visita fromheremedia.org.

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Voces Universales is part of From Here Media's Universal Voices podcast series. The Spanish-language podcasts are hosted by Juan Carlos Hernandez, and welcome!

In this podcast we speak with Adriana Elizabeth Castillo. She is from Ecuador and tells us about her life as an immigrant and how her grandmother and a missionary group awakened a conversion based on the love of Mother Mary. This devotion sparked a devotion so deep that it motivated the creation of the documentary Mary, the Most Empowered Woman of All Time, about Our Lady's impact on the lives of six people.

She shares about:

• Her life as a young woman and her conversion.
• Why she decided to make this documentary.
• Her hope for the documentary and future projects.

The debut of this documentary is slated for October 2024. For more information about the documentary, visit the Instagram account: @MARIA_LAMUJERMASEMPODERADA.

Thank you for joining us. It gives us great pleasure to have you listen to Voces Universales. We send warm regards to our sponsors whose support makes this work possible. For more information about From Here Media's mission and vision or to join our growing list of sponsors, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Cecilia Flores to share about her heart for building relationships. This episode is packed with gems as Cecilia shares her wisdom around what it is to enter into relationship with others. This episode is not only full of invitation and care, it is also full of nuggets to take to reflection and prayer. Listen in as Cecilia and Alissa dive into:

• Showing up as our authentic selves.
• Being received as gift and accepting others as gift.
• Embracing the unique gifts we each bring to the Church and the World.
• Showing up to spaces in humility, without agenda.
• Cecilia's work with the USCCB.
• The stability of the Catholic Church.
• Being a welcoming place for messiness and questions.
• Staying close to what is around us, with the people who are around us.
• Spending time really getting to know others.
• Jesus as a model of how to build relationship.
• Relationship as a vessel of Redemption.

Cecilia Flores is the daughter of Filipino immigrants who grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. She has spent over 15 years working with communities of faith to address poverty and injustice in the US and in Central America through the formation and development of youth, young adults, and women. She holds an MA in Global Development & Social Justice from St. John’s University, while grounding herself in the cultural traditions and wisdom received from her elders and ancestors. She is passionate about the power of storytelling, building relationships, community organizing, facilitating opportunities for encounter, and helping others discover and develop their gifts to change the world. She currently works as the Executive Director of the Catholic Volunteer Network and is also a Consultant to the USCCB’s Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church. She is based in Sacramento, CA and is the proud mother of two children.

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Voces Universales es parte de la serie de pódcasts Universal Voices de From Here Media. El presentador de los pódcast en español es Juan Carlos Hernández. ¡Bienvenidos!

En este pódcast hablamos con Bernardo Ramonfaur sobre su vida y como lo condujo a la fe y el arte. Bernardo comparte como fue descubriendo su razón de ser por los caminos del estudio, el arte y la libertad. Nacido en Monterrey Nuevo León México, Bernardo cursa estudios de artes visuales en la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León y posteriormente estudios de diseño en el Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. Durante sus estudios de arte comienza a interesarse por el arte sacro y religioso, de manera que comienza a realizar algunos trabajos en su comunidad parroquial. Es hasta el 2012 que surge la iniciativa de Iknu, que toma de la palabra ikniutsin (que significa compañero en la lengua náhuatl) que ofrece servicios de arte y diseño sacro para colaborar con la misión de la Iglesia.

Él comparte sobre:

• Su vida de joven y su conversión.
• Como comenzó el camino de artista profesional.
• Por qué integra elementos mexicanos, latinos e idígenas en su arte.
• Su trabajo con niños.

Para más información sobre el trabajo de Bernardo, visita: https://www.iknu.mx/en

Gracias por acompañarnos. Nos da mucho gusto que escuchen Voces Universales. Enviamos un saludo cálido a nuestros patrocinadores cuyo apoyo hace este trabajo posible. Para más información sobre la misión y visión de From Here Media o para formar parte de la lista creciente de patrocinadores, por favor visita fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices is part of From Here Media's Universal Voices podcast series. The host of the podcasts in Spanish is Juan Carlos Hernández. Welcome!

In this podcast we talk with Bernardo Ramonfaur about his life and how it led him to faith and art. Bernardo shares how he discovered his reason for being through the paths of study, art and freedom. Born in Monterrey Nuevo León Mexico, Bernardo studied visual arts at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León and later studied design at the Technological Institute of Higher Studies of Monterrey. During his art studies, he began to become interested in sacred and religious art and began to do some work in his parish community. It was not until 2012 that the Iknu initiative emerged, Iknu--which takes from the word ikniutsin (which means companion in the Nahuatl language)--offers sacred art and design services to collaborate with the mission of the Church.

He shares about:

• His life as a young man and his conversion.
• How he began his path as a professional artist.
• Why he integrates Mexican, Latin and indigenous elements in his art.
• His work with children.

For more information about Bernardo's work, visit: https://www.iknu.mx/en

Thanks for joining us. We are very happy that you are here. Thank you to our sponsors whose support makes this work possible. To learn more about From Here Media's mission and vision or to become part of our growing group of sponsors, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Chenele Shaw to share about her heart for The National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. This episode is packed with goodness as the two chat about the extraordinary opportunity to walk with Jesus all over the United States as part of the larger Eucharistic Revival. The pilgrimage which begins at four different pilgrimage routes across the country on Pentecost Sunday (May 19th) will conclude just before the National Eucharistic Congress in July. This episode is not only full of excellent information, it is also jam packed with hope! Listen in as Chenele and Alissa dive into:

• The incredible people of the Universal Church.
• What the Eucharistic Pilgrimage is.
• Chenele's role in helping the pilgrimage come to life.
• Walking and Praying.
• How this pilgrimage can help reflect the universality of the Church in the United States.
• A little bit of what you can expect on the pilgrimage.
• The intentionality behind all the stops on the pilgrimage.
• Encouragement to be a part of this incredible journey!

Find more information and register for the pilgrimage here.

Chenele Shaw grew up in Central Florida surrounded by a wonderful Caribbean American family. She now lives in Florida and is planning two routes of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage that will precede the National Eucharistic Congress this summer. Chenele is currently the Co-Director of The Before Gethsemane Initiative and host of the Ave Spotlight, a podcast for Ave Maria Press as well as Anti-Depressing where she shares about mental health and pop culture. She is also a contributing writer for Our Sunday Visitor, The Grotto Network, and others.

Chenele received a bachelor’s degree in theology from Ave Maria University in 2015. She has experience in youth ministry at the school, parish and diocesan level as well as her time as a high school theology teacher. You can usually find her vintage shopping, talking to her therapist or finding the newest local ice cream shop.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Teresa Rojo Tsosie is a Dine woman living in Navajo Nation in Tuba City, Arizona. She is the director of religious education at St. Jude Parish, and one of the lead organizers in the creation of Wholemakers: A Journey in Ecological Conversion for Young Adults, by Young Adults, a curriculum being used in Catholics parishes, schools, and communities across the United States to help root Catholic youth in the ecological underpinnings of the Catholic faith. She serves on various committees and boards for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, is a national leader on Catholic-indigenous exploration of our call to care for our common home, and is also a new mom.

In this episode of Universal Voices newest A Heart For mini-series, Alissa welcomes Teresa Rojo Tsosie. This episode is packed with honesty as Teresa shares her wisdom and experience around being a Native Catholic. The two barely scratch the surface of the vast and wide knowledge Teresa holds and Alissa can't wait to invite her back. Listen in as the two discuss:

• Holding the complexity of the fullness of yourself.
• Persevering so that future generations may inherit the faith.
• The power of Teresa's advocacy and voice.
• The love, comfort and home Teresa finds in the Church.
• What the Pope's formal apology and visit to Canada meant to Teresa.
• The need to recognize, apologize and atone for our wrongs as a Church.
• The amazing witness of marginalized peoples still abiding in the Church.
• Teresa's work with the USCCB.
• Journeying Together.
• The Doctrine of Discovery.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Voces Universales es parte de la serie de pódcasts Universal Voices que inició Alissa Molina en el año 2020. El presentador de los pódcasts en español es Juan Carlos Hernández. ¡Bienvenidos!

En este pódcast continuamos las conversaciones sobre, Un Corazón Para las Orillas, o hacia que se inclina el corazón del invitado. Juan Carlos habla con Karina Breceda sobre su servicio a madres en la frontera El Paso/Ciudad Juárez y lo que significa para ella tener un corazón que vive dentro y más allá de las fronteras. Karina también comparte sobre:

• Su trabajo en albergues para migrantes de ambos lados de la frontera México/Estados Unidos.
• El servicio como ministerio de su familia.
• La apertura a diferentes expresiones de la fe católica.
• El arte y cómo la fe está moldeando su visión del proceso creativo.

Para más información sobre el trabajo de Karina o para donar a los refugios, visita: newwavefeminists.org/stellarshelter.

Gracias por acompañarnos. Nos da mucho gusto que escuchen Voces Universales. Enviamos un saludo cálido a nuestros patrocinadores cuyo apoyo hace este trabajo posible. ¡Muchísimas gracias! Para más información sobre la misión y visión de From Here Media o para formar parte de la lista creciente de patrocinadores, por favor visita fromheremedia.org.

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Voces Universales is part of this Universal Voices podcast series started by Alissa Molina in 2020. The Spanish-language podcast host is Juan Carlos Hernandez. Welcome!

In this Universal Voices podcast we continue the conversations about, A Heart for the Edges. Juan Carlos talks with Karina Breceda about her service to mothers on the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez border and what it means to her to have a heart that lives within and beyond borders.

Karina also shares about:

• Her work at migrant shelters on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border.
• Service as a ministry to her family.
• Openness to different expressions of the Catholic faith.
• Art and how faith is shaping her view of the creative process.

For more information on the Stellar Shelter or to donate please visit: newwavefeminists.org/stellarshelter.

Thank you for joining us. We are so glad you are listening to Universal Voices. We send warm greetings to our supporters whose donations make this work possible. Thank you so much! For more information about From Here Media's mission and vision or to join our growing list of supporters, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Allison Sullivan. This episode is packed with goodness as Alissa and Allison enter into conversation around the Truth that every single person reflects the image of God. The two focus on going "to the base of the mountain" to see that the failure to honor the Imago Dei in all people is at the root of all that ails us, They talk of ways to begin to step with humility and courage to see and treat people as the image bearers they are. The two also talk of:

• Being the kind of friend that rips off roofs.
• How Jesus did not skip suffering and how that comforts us in our own.
• The need and necessity of asking questions and the goodness of doubt.
• Never arriving, but continually being called into the deep.
• Thomas' deepest doubts leading to the the truest faith.
• Going to the base of the mountain to find why people are drowning.
• Showing up late to someone else's story.
• Tenderness with ourselves and with others.
• Trusting our brothers and sisters in faith.
• Embracing that every image bearer reflects some aspect of God out into the world.

Find Allison's podcast Sinner, Saint, Sister here, her Substack Pure Speculation here, and her family's fun TikTok account here. You can also find her on Instagram.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices, ahora en español, es Voces Universales y será parte de esta serie de podcasts que inició Alissa Molina en el 2020. Nos da muchísimo gusto poder compartir estos podcasts con ustedes en español.

¡Bienvenidos!

El presentador para estos podcasts en español será Juan Carlos Hernández. Si quieren escuchar su conversación (en inglés) con Alissa del 20 de octubre de 2023, la encontrarán en la lista de podcasts anteriores.

Ahora, en Voces Universales continuamos las conversaciones. En esta emisión, Juan Carlos habla con Ale Hamlet y sobre su fe y el amor que siente por servir a su prójimo, o sea ella tiene un corazón para el servicio.

Además, Ale comparte sobre:

• Su personalidad, y cómo desarrolló el don de la adaptación.
• La cultura católica en México y cómo marcó su fe, vida y visión del tiempo.
• Su venida a los Estados Unidos y cómo formó su vida en la fe.
• El servicio a su parroquia y lo que eso ha significado para ella.
• El tiempo, los talentos y la iglesia doméstica.

Muchas gracias por acompañarnos. Nos da mucho gusto que escuchen Voces Universales. Enviamos un saludo cálido a nuestros patrocinadores cuyo apoyo hace este trabajo posible. ¡Muchísimas gracias! Para más información sobre la misión y visión de From Here o para formar parte de la lista creciente de patrocinadores, por favor visita fromheremedia.org.

English

Universal Voices, now in Spanish, is Voces Universales and will be part of this podcast series started by Alissa Molina in 2020. We are thrilled to be able to share these podcasts with you in Spanish.

Welcome!

The host for these Spanish podcasts will be Juan Carlos Hernández. If you would like to listen to his conversation (in English) with Alissa on October 20, 2023, you will find it in the list of previous podcasts.

Now, on Voces Universales we continue the conversations. In this broadcast, Juan Carlos talks with Ale Hamlet about her faith and the love she feels for serving her neighbor, that is, she has a heart for service.

In addition, Ale shares about:

• Her personality, and how she developed the gift of adaptation.
• The Catholic culture in Mexico and how it marked her faith, life and vision of time.
• Her coming to the United States and how it shaped his life in faith.
• Her service to her parish and what that has meant to her.
• Time, talents and the domestic church.

Thank you so much for joining us. We are so glad you are listening to Universal Voices. We send warm greetings to our sponsors whose support makes this work possible - thank you so much! For more information about From Here's mission and vision or to join our growing list of sponsors, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Jennifer Nutzman. Jenny is a cradle Catholic who moved around as a child, learning early to adapt and love everyone as they are wherever they are. She currently finds hope in working to help people recognize the convergence of our Catholic Social Teaching and the synodal church, the church of accompaniment, that we are called to be at this point in history.

This episode is packed with all sorts of hope as Alissa and Jenny enter into conversation around what it is to be a synodal Church--that is--a Church who walks together. Get ready to feel some joy and peace about the state of the Catholic Church as the two venture into so much that is truly hopeful. Listen in to hear as the two chat about:

• God's small still voice within us.
• Jesus in the Eucharist.
• Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future - the book by Pope Francis that kind of kicked it all off for Jenny.
• An easy definition of the word synod.
• Holy Tension.
• Trust.
• Unity NOT being uniformity.
• Sophia Institute's Synod Course.
• Letting the hand hold the wound, and the feet move us in the direction we are going (this was Alissa's FAVORITE part)!
• Listening, listening, listening.
• Different kinds of margins.
• How others may be feeling pushed out just like we do (this was so so good)!
• A Church led by the Holy Spirit.

Find details on the Sophia Institute Course here and a great definition of synodality here. Purchase a second-hand copy of Let Us Dream here.

Finally, join us in praying this simple prayer from the opening of the synod:
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Juan Carlos Hernandez. JC and Alissa discuss community and so much more including:

• How food can create spaces of welcome and community.
• Gratitude and appreciation.
• The power of prayer.
• The power of simple acts of connection.
• The ways community has been modeled by the ones who have come before.
• Open tabled fellowship.
• Feed. Pray. Walk (this was SO good).

Make sure to stick around until the end to hear Universal Podcast news!

Thank you so much for listening. We are so glad you are here! A huge shout out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org or visit us on from_here_org on Instagram.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this final of six new episodes, Alissa welcomes Laura Kelly Fanucci. Laura is an author, speaker, retreat leader, and founder of Mothering Spirit, an ecumenical project on parenting and spirituality. She has authored seven books, including Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting and Grieving Together: A Couple's Journey through Miscarriage. Laura’s work has been featured on the Hallow and Ritual apps, and in popular outlets including NPR’s Morning Edition, On Being, and the Kelly Clarkson Show. She writes frequently for online and print publications including OSV News Service, Grotto Network, and Give Us This Day. She and her husband live in Minnesota with their children.

This episode is packed with all sorts of balm as Alissa and Laura enter into conversation around what feels like "The Great In-Between" of the current time in the Church--a messy and beautiful place of forging a new way of being, while at the same time holding fast to sacraments, Jesus, ritual and one another. They talk of what it is to feel spiritually tired, and offer a few gentle ways forward. They also chat about:

• Tending to our collective grief
• Ritual as balm
• The power of making space for lament
• EUCHARIST
• Comfort and freedom in the gray
• The power of ecumenical relationships
• God as Way-Maker
• Focusing on our commonalities vs our differences in Christian spaces
• The well of personal experience, leading to the aquifer of human experience
• Clinging to Jesus and the Gospel
• God in this one moment
• The beautiful work of Mothering Spirit

You'll also hear the two reference the wisdom or work of all sorts of folks including: Meg Hunter-Kilmer, Tina Guyden, Erica of Be A Heart Design, Shannon Evans, The Upside Down Podcast, Scott Erickson and Amber Haines.

Make sure to follow Laura on Instagram and Mothering Spirit on both Instagram and Facebook. You can join Alissa in supporting Mothering Spirit by becoming a Patron here.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes Mary Ellen Mitchell. Mary Ellen is the co-director of Lydia's House, a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality in Cincinnati, Ohio. The pair spend time diving into Mary Ellen's heart for welcome, her work with moms and kids at Lydia's House, and the Catholic call to community and compassion. This is a hard and hopeful episode as the two also venture into:

• Finding goodness in order and also leaving room for surprise.
• A path forward in the whole life call of the Church.
• Nearness being anything but tidy.
• Holiness being anything but linear.
• The ways red tape and jumping through hoops make it hard to love folks via getting them what they need.
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
• The deep desire we all have to be in community.
• Redefining "success."
• Lydia's House, Lydia's House, Lydia's House and how much Alissa wants to visit.

To find out more about Lydia's House, click here. To get in touch with Mary Ellen about a possible fellowship or job partnership at Lydia's House, email her at maryellen@stlydiashouse.org.

Thank you so much for listening. We are so glad you are here! A huge shout out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org or visit us on from_here_sessions on Instagram.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this episode, Alissa welcomes John Hamlet. John is a former student from Alissa's time preparing high school teens for Confirmation. He is in his first year of college and Alissa was excited to learn from him as a young person in the Church. The pair had planned to chat about the Church being who She says She is in the world, but the conversation soon turned to John's desire for our Church to reflect kindness and love in the world. This simple theme became a really powerful and central message throughout their time together and gave Alissa a whole bunch of hope. Tune in as the pair also venture into:

• The power of honoring dignity.
• Preaching the Gospel without words.
• Being near to the ones Jesus was near to.
• Who the Church is at our very best.
• The power of a loving Catholic foundation.
• The normalcy of disagreements when your Church has a billion members.
• What gives John hope.

Thank you so much for listening. We are so glad you are here! A huge shout out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org or visit us on from_here_sessions on Instagram.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this third of six new episodes, Alissa welcomes Shannon Wimp Schmidt. Shannonis a Parish Vitality Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Chicago, co-host of Plaid Skirts and Basic Black Podcast, and author of the book Fat Luther, Slim Pickin’s (Ave Maria Press, 2022). She lives in Chicagoland with her husband, Eric, and their four children.

This episode is packed with all sorts of gems as Alissa and Shannon tackle everything from Shannon's heart for women in the Church, to what happens to the Church in America in 50 years if things stay exactly as they are now, to the importance of the Lay Church. The two also venture into:

• The cultural shift of the American Church
• How culture can enliven our Gospel witness
• Women's wisdom in decision making
• Removing barriers to Jesus
• How ritual helps us NOT skip the hard parts of faith
• What happens to the Church when one person leaves
• God calling us before we even become us.
• Being a lay Church who is not distracted

Make sure to follow Shannon on Instagram and Twitter. You can find her @teamquarterblack in both places. And don't forget to grab a copy of the book she co-authored and listen in to Plaid Skirts and Basic Black.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org or visit us on from_here_sessions on Instagram.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this second of six new episodes, Alissa welcomes Nate Tinner-Williams. Nateis co-founder and editor of Black Catholic Messenger, and a seminarian with the Josephites. He is a native of Evansville, Indiana, a lover of New Orleans, and currently resides in Washington, DC.

This episode is jam packed with wisdom as Nate shares his heart for Black History. Listen in to a learn a little about:

• Black Catholic Messenger
• The Black Catholic History of the United States
• The ways the Holy Spirit is all over Nate's life, story and witness.
• How Nate came to the Catholic Faith.
• The ways representation helps us to feel seen.
• The pitfalls of the extremes.
• Carrying on what our ancestors fought for and gave us.
• The Josephites.

Subscribe to Black Catholic Messenger here. Donate to their incredible work here.

Thank you so much for listening to this episode of Universal Voices. We are so glad you are here! An extra shout-out to our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org or visit us on from_here_sessions on Instagram.

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Universal Voices is back with an all new A Heart For mini-series. In this first of six new episodes, Alissa welcomes in Tina Guyden and the pair chat about their hearts for not going at it alone. Join them as they venture into: 

• The discomfort of growth.
• Letting go of perfection in relationship and/or community.
• The power of people who stretch us.
• The power of people who see us.
• Persistence.
• Allowing ourselves a break from said persistence.
• The best t-shirt slogan of all time.
• Vulnerability.

Thank you so much for listening. We are so glad you are here! A big huge shout out to  our amazing supporters who helped to make this episode possible! To learn more about From Here's mission and vision or for more information on how to join our growing group of financial backers, please visit fromheremedia.org or visit us on from_here_sessions on Instagram.  

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In this Bonus Episode Alissa talks all things new and exciting for From Here Media!

Listen in to hear Alissa talk about:

• Answering Jesus' call to live out the Great Commandment
• Why mission and vision matter when building something
• THE INCREDIBLE LAY CHURCH
• Celebrating
• Jesus working with her stubborn nature
• WIDENING, WITNESSING, & IGNITING
• Care and prudence as it relates to matters of the faith of others
• The Vessel
• SHARE, GROW, PRAY, AND GREET
• Excitement about the future

Subscribe to The Vessel here.
Donate to From Here's 20K Campaign here.
Learn more about us here.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.  

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Welcome to this special bonus offering of Universal Voices Podcast Mini-Series.  

Alissa invites some of the contributors of Common Horizon in to record the pieces from the publication as a love offering and thank you to all From Here supporters.

Tune in as she gives a little update about From Here and then enjoy the following guests reading their pieces:

Part One: Poem and Prayers,
Rachel Simpson, Morning Prayer
Cameron Bellm, A Church of Accompaniment
Rakhi McCormick, A Sacred Sense
Laura Fanucci, A prayer for Dignity, For All of Us

Part Two:  Fire and Focus
Jennifer Nutzman, Humbly into the Moment
Alissa Molina, Go Home and Love
Monica Garcia, Freedom, Rightly Ordered
Natalie Alfaro Frazier, Moved to Act 

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In this Bonus Episode, Alissa talks with Cameron Bellm, Lauren Winter, and Sara Alexander the creators of No Unlikely Saints, A Mental Health Pilgrimage With Sacred Company.  This conversation was packed with so much goodness.  Listen in as the women unpack:

• The Necessity of Conversations around Mental Health in the Catholic Church
• The gifts of therapy and medication
• The gifts of walking with Saints who experienced mental illness
• The gift of not walking alone
• The harm that shame does
• The reasons the writers wrote the devotional
• The both/and nature of both praying and seeking medical help with our mental health

You can purchase the amazing devotional at www.brickhouseinthecity.com or find more information at the From Here Instagram page.

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In this Bonus Episode Alissa talks with Vanesa Zuleta Goldberg, Natalie Alfaro Frazier, Jenny Nutzman and Cameron Bellm,  some of the creators who are part of Common Horizon, a print publication that explores the 7 Themes of Catholic Social Teaching.  

Listen in to hear the five women discuss:

• Caring beyond ourselves
• Caring beyond our Church
• Following the model of Jesus via Catholic Social Teaching
• Making spaces that allow for showing up as our real selves
• Racism
• The Death Penalty
• Widening our tables and the voices we hear from
• Nuns and the role of women in our faith
• Being a Church of Accompaniment
• Giving Rise to Courage
• Stepping into Silence
• Rejoicing and Grieving at the very same time
• The importance of being in line with Church teaching for this project
• The catechism affirming our call to act
• The balance of being voices of honest and voices of grace

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In the final episode of this 12-part series Alissa wraps up this project by:

• Talking about the evolution of this mini-series
• Exploring the necessity of reckoning what we believe and how we live that out
• Pushing back on comfortable Christianity
• Doubling down on the daily work that we are called to do
• Asking what Christian discipleship costs us
• Pointing to the necessity of drinking from the well of the sacraments, prayer and community
• Giving a soccer analogy as it relates to going out and bringing the love of God into the world
• Remembering the ultimate reward of Christian discipleship
• Thanking you for your belief in this project

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In the 11th installment of this 12-part series, Alissa welcomes her friend Raquel.  In honor of The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the two friends talk about all types of motherhood--the spiritual mothers they know and love, their lives as moms now, and our Heavenly Mother, Mary.   Listen in as they chat about:

• This interview Raquel did on the loss of her mom on the podcast, Mamas in Spirit.
• Healing and consolation after loss through sharing our story
• Looking for glimpses of Mama Mary's attributes in the women around us
• The interior life as a way to care for ourselves
• Mary walking us closer to her Son, and also each other
• Motherhood being hard and the importance for asking for help from our spiritual mom and other women
• The awesomeness of WOMEN
• Mary being there, waiting to mother us
• Stepping into our YES the way Mary did over and over
• Mary as our model of love, trust and obedience
• The piercings Mary felt that help moms know she gets their struggle

To find out more about Raquel, previous guests, the weekly giveaways, or to support the work of this project, visit from_here_sessions on Instagram.

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In the  TENTH episode of this 12-part series,  Alissa (finally!) convinces her husband of 17 years, Junior, to let her interview him.  The couple talks about his heart for family life and the conversation covers a lot of ground in a short time.  Tune in to hear them talk about:

• Preaching always, and if necessary using words
• The Source of Junior's joy
• The power of the everyday witness
• The Church as family and as a place we fit
• The intimacy of praying as a couple
• Junior's family of origin
• Both the discipline and depth necessary in the faith life
• The vital practice of worship
• One of the things in family life Junior did not see coming
• Bringing our best selves to our family
• Teamwork [with God] makes the dream work
• Communication as a key component to married life
• Holiness as proximity to God

To find out more about Junior, previous guests, the weekly giveaways, or to support the work of this project, visit from_here_sessions on Instagram. 

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Today in the 9th installment of this 12 part series Alissa welcome in Alysse Gear to talk about her heart for creation.  Alissa and Alysse share all kinds of passions and hit it off really quickly.  The two new friends spend some time discussing care for God's creation and how people of faith can make small changes to be better stewards of the beautiful gift that is the earth and everything in it.  Jump in and listen to the two talk about all the things like:

• Bringing the passions God has placed in our hearts to the Church
• The power of welcome
• Plant walks!
• Integrating the care of creation into our everyday lives
• Loving creation by finding the habits that work best for us
• A few habits to try
• The power of modeling
• Alysse's ONE request of anyone who hears this podcast
• The beauty of our multifaceted faith
• Consumerism
• Catholic Social Teaching

Find out more about Alysse, other Universal Voices Guests, weekly giveaways or how to support this work by visiting from_here_sessions on Instagram. 

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Today Alissa welcomes Hannah Sherfinski to Universal Voices.  Hannah is a medical student and this conversation left Alissa so inspired and encouraged.  Hannah speaks so passionately and knowledgeably about public health.  This discussion on integrating faith into how she learns, grows, studies and sees herself as a future physician gives Alissa so much hope.  In this 8th episode of this 12 part series, we chat about:

• Science + Faith
• The awesomeness of the integration of our passions, interests and faith
• The miracle of being alive
• Imitating the relational way of Jesus
• Health equity
• Living faith through loving and advocating for people who are often silenced
• The complexities of reproductive issues
• Seeing the whole person
• Embracing the gray
• The fact that Covid-19 is a thing (wear a mask!)
• Ways Hannah connects to Jesus within the hectic pace of medical school
• The power of a caring physician

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In this 7th episode of this 12 part mini-series, Alissa brings in newly ordained priest Fr. Will Rooney to chat about his heart for story.  The two friends talk about their common love for story--the ones that come from each of us and the Grandest Story of all time.  So much of this episode reminds us all how important we are to that Story.  Tune in to hear:

• A crazy connection Alissa figures out in real time about a beloved priest she knows.
• How God uses the Church to give us a bigger story.
• The imagery of God singing all things into being.
• And also the imagery of God being able to use notes of discord to create something magnificent.
• Our stories giving us a sense of rootedness in who we are.
• The gift that are priests who recognize the wholeness of people and the value of their story.
• How God can take the hard parts of our story and redeem them.
• How Fr. Will's heart for story influences the way he lives his vocation.
• Looking for the way God has worked in our story.
• How the sacraments proclaim that we are part of God's story.
• The hope that God's bigger story provides us.

Thank you so much for your continued support of this project.  For more information on guests, the zoom community sessions or to financially back it, go to from_here_sessions on Instagram.

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No new episode is slated for this week as Election Tuesday is an important opportunity to be prayerfully engaged.  

Instead, Alissa has recorded the recitation of the sorrowful mysteries of the most holy rosary ahead of election day.

May we continue to remember the unchanging, perfect nature of the God we love and serve.  And may He and His Kingdom be at the center of all we say and do. 

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Today Alissa is STOKED to welcome Destiny Herndon-De la Rosa of New Wave Feminists to Universal Voices.  Destiny is not Catholic but Alissa could NOT shake the thought that she was supposed to reach out to Destiny and invite her on.  Destiny and NWF have played an important role in the way Alissa lives out her own Catholic call to protect the dignity of all human life.  Strap in for the packed sixth episode of this 12-week series where the two empaths talk about:

• The gift of failure and closed doors.
• Badass saints.
• The power of prayer.
• New Wave Feminists recent work in Juarez.
• The most perfect wax on and wax off analogy.
• Sharing the gospel and if you have to, using words.
• Mr. Miyagi
• Memento Mori.
• The Five Part Holy Spirit Series that led to AMAZING.
• The 2016 Pivot.
• Wiggling free of hypocrisy and extremes through a consistent life ethic.
• The amazing work of Abide Women's Health Services.
• Creating a wholistic culture of life.

Thank you so much for your continued support of this project.  For more information or to financially back it, go to from_here_sessions on Instagram.  

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In this 5th installment of this 12-week series, Alissa welcomes Udochi Ekwerike.  Alissa met Udochi this summer and immediately felt a sisterhood with her.  Udochi comes in to talk about her heart for the Black Catholic Community.  The two new friends talk about so so much in this jam packed episode including:

• Being a fully alive human being
• What Udochi calls Beauty restoration
• The power in reversion to the Church
• Pushing back on having to sacrifice parts of our identity to be a part of Jesus' Church
• Being pioneers for racial justice
• The quote that both scares Alissa and propels her forward in anti-racism work in the Church
• The movement that is giving us hope
• Father Brian Massingale's book
• The gift of charity in anti-racism work
• Naming racism as the sin it is
• Looking to divine solutions
• The USCCB document Open Wide our Hearts

If you'd like to learn more about Udochi, this project, our zoom hang out sessions, weekly giveaways, or how to financially back this work, find us on Instagram at from_here_sessions. 

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I interrupt your regularly scheduled Universal Voices Podcast Episode with this quick bonus episode in which I:

• Tell the crazy story of how I found the saint that I ask to pray for Universal Voices
• Prove how extra I am when asking Jesus for things
• Ask y'all to help me celebrate this new best friend saint of mine on her feast day THIS Wednesday
• Invite y'all to participate in a rosary for respect life month.

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In this fourth installment of the Universal Voices Podcast Mini-Series, Alissa is joined by Patty Breen.  Patty is such a light in this world and in this conversation she brings her heart for Catholics who have gone through a divorce. This is a must listen.  Patty really helps us all learn how to love any and all of our neighbors better. We cover a lot of ground in this episode including:

• Patty's Heart for the Boss.  ;)
• Whether or not the Church really is a hospital for the broken.
• Two helpful questions to ask someone you care about when they are going through something hard.
• Shame as the devil's favorite and oldest trick.
• The tenderness and empathy women often bring to the Church.
• Transactional faith versus a communal one.
• Hopeful and helpful things going on right now for folks who are going through a divorce.
• Our hope to one day meet in real life in Chicago with our girl Christina so we can talk and laugh for hours over Christina's homemade pizza and bread.

If you'd like to support this project, click here.  For more information on Universal Voices guests, our community zoom sessions and other content offerings follow from_here_sessions on Instagram.

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In episode three of this 12-week series, Alissa welcomes in Ana-Cristina Gonzalez to talk about her heart for the Church.  Ana-Cristina worked in various parish settings over her 11 year career in the Church, including a position as Chief Operations Officer in the largest parish in the diocese.  Her experience has given her a wealth of information and knowledge when it comes to how parishes can thrive.  Ana-Cristina is one of Alissa's best friends, and the two have helped each other through much of life over the last 20 years--including throughout their time working in the Church.  Listen in for some real honest, hard-earned wisdom, plus lots of encouragement as the two friends discuss:

• Being centered by Jesus in the Eucharist
• Loving Jesus by loving His Church well
• Having your heart broken by folks in the Church
• Supporting our priests by avoiding the extremes
• Walking the Talk
• Mean people in the Church
• Encouraging the gifts folks bring to the Church
• Encouraging current Church workers
• Leaving room for Alissa to become the Patron Saint of Instagram

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In this second installment of this 12-week series, Alissa welcomes Natalie Alfaro Frazier and Leticia Ochoa Adams.  We talk about all.the.things, including:

• That time Alissa was actually really fraternally corrected
• What it feels like to be in a safe space with other women
• A really good Church and Basketball Analogy
• Defense of the Dignity of the Human Person with no exceptions
• The cameo we are calling Baby's First Podcast
• Reckoning with Racism
• Interconnectedness and how it impacts the pro-life movement
• Problem Trees and Colonialism
• Leaving the labels of progressive/conservative in favor of being known as a Daughter of the King
• Our Catholic Call to Action
• Chadwick Boseman's Quote on Purpose
• Keeping out of the Weeds

Join us for all this and more as we barely take a breath in this episode about our Hearts for those on the Margins.  

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In this first episode of the Universal Voices Podcast Mini-Series, host Alissa Molina:

• lays out the vision and mission for this 12 episode mini-series
• talks about what's in a name
• shares her heart for connection
• pushes back on the idea that there is only one way to Catholic
• tells why she could never be Mother Teresa (ha!)

To learn more about this mini-series, the guests, or our community zoom sessions, visit us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/from_here_sessions/.

To support this project visit: https://linktr.ee/alissamolina