Each episode features conversations with people from various backgrounds, exploring the real side of ministry. We discuss insights and learnings from the local and national landscape, enriching our understanding of the ministry's impact.
RSS
Apple
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Discover shows related to The Church Podcast, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
Episode 049 – Parenting, Identity, and Cultural Ambassadors (Part 2) with Dr. Julia Sadusky
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 • Duration 43:42
In Part 2 of this conversation with Dr. Julia Sadusky, Christopher and Julia move from principles to practice.
If Part 1 focused on integration and posture, Part 2 tackles the real-world questions parents and ministry leaders are actually facing:
“When did this get so complicated?”
“When should I talk to my kids about sex and pornography?”
“How do I protect my kids without isolating them?”
“What does it mean to care for people on the margins in distinctively Catholic ways?”
Julia draws from her books on gender and sexual identity, her clinical work, and years of youth ministry experience to offer grounded, developmentally wise guidance for families and churches.
Go to https://thechurchpodcast.org for show notes
Episode 048 – Faith, Psychology, and the Hard Questions (Part 1) with Dr. Julia Sadusky
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 • Duration 31:02
In this first part of a two-part conversation, Christopher sits down with Dr. Julia Sadusky, a licensed psychologist specializing in sexuality, gender, and faith. What unfolds is not a debate—but a deeply pastoral and thoughtful exploration of how faith and psychology actually belong together.
Julia shares her personal journey—from a theology of the body student at Ave Maria University to working at the intersection of sexuality, gender, and Christian discipleship. She reflects on the formative influence of Mark Yarhouse, and how encountering real people with real questions reshaped her vocational path.
Together, Christopher and Julia explore:
Why Catholics don’t need to fear psychology
How therapy and spiritual direction can complement one another
What the Church actually does well in teaching about sexuality
Why wrestling with Church teaching can be a sign of faith—not rebellion
How youth ministers can respond when teens ask difficult questions
The “iceberg principle” and why the real question is often beneath the surface
This episode is especially helpful for ministry leaders who want to hold truth with confidence—but without defensiveness.
Episode 039 – Faith Meets the Feed: Storytelling, Strategy, and Stewardship with Katie Hinderer
Tuesday, November 11, 2025 • Duration 55:20
In this insightful and practical episode, Christopher Wesley sits down with Katie Hinderer, founder and CEO of Rosebud Social, a digital marketing agency helping Catholic and mission-driven organizations tell their stories online with clarity and creativity. From journalism to social media strategy, Katie shares her journey of discovering how faith and innovation can meet in the digital space.
Together, they explore the intersection of communication, culture, and mission—how parishes, schools, and ministries can move beyond event flyers and start sharing authentic stories that evoke belonging, inspire trust, and build real community. Katie also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how she leads a remote creative team, integrates AI tools ethically, and balances hustle with holiness.
Key Takeaways
The Power of Presence Online: The Church must reclaim its place as a leader in art, culture, and digital storytelling—not just participate.
Authenticity Over Aesthetics: The most effective posts tell human stories, not just share information. People want to see faces, not flyers.
Consistency Builds Trust: Posting regularly (at least three times a week) signals life and vibrancy within your parish or organization.
Faith and AI Can Coexist: Tools like ChatGPT can enhance creativity, save time, and aid discernment—if used responsibly.
Healthy Hustle: Rest, boundaries, and sabbath rhythms aren’t optional extras; they’re essential for sustainable leadership.
Team Care: Leadership means modeling rest—Katie enforces tech breaks, creative Fridays, and digital sabbaths for her staff.
For more on this episode visit https://thechurchpodcast.org
Episode 108: Neighborhood Evangelist w/ Tony Vasinda, Part 1
Tuesday, November 19, 2019 • Duration 31:28
In part 1 of this Facebook Live episode, Chris and John talk with Neighborhood Evangelist and Youth Ministry Leader Tony Vasinda as he shares his journey of faith and how he has been led to evangelizing in a different way with his family.
He specifically shares how ministry, if it’s beautiful and true, but it doesn’t work in our parishes, then we should reconsider it.
You can find out more about Tony Vasinda and his ministry by visiting him on Twitter @TonyVasinda or visiting Patreon.com/HOBL.
Episode 107: How to Say “No” In Ministry
Tuesday, November 12, 2019 • Duration 33:05
Saying “no” is an essential part of being a leader in ministry. In this episode, Chris and John share their experience of saying “no” and how to effectively discern what we say “yes” to and what we say “no” to.
For more resources on this topic, check out the Monk Manual or visit the Marathon Youth Ministry Store and check out “Time Savers” and the “Annual Self Assessment.”
Episode 106: An Introduction to Theology of the Body
Tuesday, November 5, 2019 • Duration 37:37
In this episode, special guest Klarissa Chichioco shares about Theology of the Body. She delves into what it is and how to implement it into your ministry.
To learn more about Klarissa and her ministry, visit Echoes of Worth.
Episode 105: Your Parish Organizational Structure: It Can Make or Break Your Ministry
Tuesday, October 29, 2019 • Duration 31:19
Your staff and ministry organizational structure should be evaluated to make sure it matches the needs of your parish and allows you to achieve your ministry goals. In this episode, Chris and John explore some of the common traps or mistakes we fall into and share some ideas how we might reconfigure our staff structure to allow for more effective ministry.
Episode 104: Facebook Live Q & A - Creating Change and Welcoming Non-Catholic to Youth Ministry
Tuesday, October 22, 2019 • Duration 26:54
In this Facebook Live episode, Chris and John address your questions. This week, we delve into how we can implement change in our parish and how we go about making non-Catholics feel welcome when the are invited to our parish youth ministry events.
Facebook Live episodes can also be found at the YM Transfer Facebook Page. Stay tuned for more Facebook Live episodes in the future.
Episode 103: You Can’t Grow Your Ministry Unless The Entire Parish Grows
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 • Duration 27:25
Youth ministry can’t grow unless the entire parish grows. Children’s ministry can’t grow unless the entire parish grows. Yet, too often, we sometimes put all of our efforts in our ministry without the understanding that what we do is collaborative. In this episode,
John and Chris share ideas and resources about how we go about breaking down ministry silos and working together as a whole to grow our entire parish.
Episode 102: Dealing With the Lack of Resources In Ministry
Tuesday, October 8, 2019 • Duration 34:27
At one point or another, we’ve all said that we don’t have enough resources to do ministry. That is likely to be true, and we need to be intentional about how we go about asking for resources, both from God and from our ministry leader.
In this episode, Chris and John explore this question and give practical guidance on how to move forward when we feel we don’t have enough resources in our ministry.
