Books Episodes

Ever feel like finding time for prayer or a real connection with Jesus just isn’t possible with your busy, everyday life—even though you crave it? You're not alone! A lot of us are searching for a way to make faith part of more than just Sundays, but we get stuck in the grind and routines. This episode from Of Sound Mind and Spirit is all about how you can bring Jesus into your day-to-day, with special guest Lisa Hendey, creator of Catholic Mom and author of Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way. Li...

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Lord, save me!” in the midst of anxiety or overwhelming stress? In today’s world, worry and anxiety have become all too familiar companions for many of us—sometimes leaving us feeling helpless, hopeless, or convinced we have to control every outcome. This episode of Of Sound Mind and Spirit is dedicated to those moments when life feels hard, and you yearn for peace but don’t know where to turn. Hosts Lisa and Shelly welcome special guest Gary Zimak, a Ca...

What if the next big step in your journey is simply saying “yes” to the dream God has placed on your heart—even if the timing feels uncertain? In this episode of Of Sound Mind and Spirit, Jessica Everly shares her inspiring experience of moving from self-doubt to becoming a published author, walking listeners through the challenges of trusting God’s timing, overcoming rejection, and finding the courage to follow a creative calling. For anyone yearning to start something new—whether it’s writing...

What if you could gain the wisdom and courage of a saint to guide you through today’s challenges? In this episode of Of Sound Mind and Spirit, hosts Shelly Kelly and Lisa Jones interview author and teacher Amy Cattapan about her new book, "Hope Without Borders," which explores the powerful spirituality and real-life writings of Mother Cabrini. If you’re searching for practical faith, resilience, or a renewed sense of hope in uncertain times, this episode showshow the legacy of Mother Cabrini can...

Are you ready for your beautiful second act? Join sisters Shelly and Lisa on Of Sound Mind and Spirit as they welcome back their first encore guest, Maria Johnson, for an invigorating conversation about navigating life's transitions.

Ever wondered how praying with Saints could help you achieve virtues and positively transform your life? In today's episode, Belinda Terro Mooney, joins us to discuss the transformative power of intercessory prayer and her latest book, "Pray with Us, A Saint for Every Day."

Hey Moms, we know it’s difficult to find good Catholic based teen fiction for our middle grade and older teens. That’s why we’re so excited about our conversation with Leslea Wahl, an award-winning author renowned for her Catholic teen mystery novels. In this episode, you'll discover resources for finding adventurous mysteries with elements of humor, faith, and clean romance, making them perfect for young adults seeking engaging and faith-based stories. Leslea is one of seven contributors to S...

Welcome back to another episode of "Of Sound Mind and Spirit." Today, we dive into an enchanting tale that will whisk you away to the timeless city of Rome with our special guest, Rebecca Martin. Rebecca, a talented author and passionate lay Dominican, joins us to discuss her delightful new romance novel, "Love in the Eternal City." This "romcom" explores themes of love, faith, and personal growth against the backdrop of the Eternal City's stunning landmarks. Rebecca shares her unique journey t...

Summer is here, and we’re diving into our favorite summer reads on this week's episode of "Of Sound Mind and Spirit"! Join us, hosts Lisa Jones and Shelly Kelly, as we dive into our favorite reads, from thrilling mysteries to inspiring spiritual books. Whether you’re lounging on a tropical beach or enjoying a staycation, we've got the perfect book recommendations to keep you company. - Shelly's interest in history and likely reads: short history of Sicily, epic adventure about the American Wes...

Who says you can't know and grow in your faith while reading Young Adult Fiction? It might be just as heaven intended! In this episode, we dive into the vibrant world of Young Adult (YA) historical fiction with the wonderfully talented Amanda Lauer, author of the award winning "...As Heaven Intended" Civil War era novels. You'll love Amanda's joy and positivity as she recounts her journey bringing teens and young adults good fiction with characters whose everyday faith guides them! SNIPPET FR...

Happy New Year! In this episode we tackle popular New Year Social Media trends such as updating our Goodreads Challenge, choosing a Word of the Year, and Inviting a Saint of the Year to walk with us. And what would be your Scripture of the Year? Snippet from the Show: "So last year I got the word minister and I thought, that is just a horrible word. Why would I get the word minister? What does that even mean? And it wasn't until Father's Day weekend that I heard our pastor give a homily and he ...

Are you looking for ways to enhance your prayer life? In this episode, Barb Szyszkiewicz, author of "The Handy Little Guide to Prayer" shares insights on the power and importance of prayer in our daily lives, and how we can find inspiration for our own prayer practices.

Why do we call the saints our friends? In this episode we delve into the fascinating world of saints with our special guest, Maria Morera Johnson. Together we explore the idea of finding saints in our everyday lives and how saints serve as role models for us in navigating our spiritual journeys.

On this episode, we’re talking about Book Groups. Why join a book club? What benefits does it bring? And Lisa shares steps you can take to start your own book group!

In this episode, Lisa and Shelly talk about spiritual reading - exploring how books help us grow in knowledge and draw closer to our faith. Snippet from the Show "[Spiritual reading] gives me the opportunity for Him to reveal Himself and tell me there’s something He wants me to take away from that moment.” “That time [reading] was my Be Still and Know God.” We want to know! What titles do you recommend? Books mentioned in this episode: This Present Paradise (by Claire Dwyer) Interior Freed...