Practicing Catholic

On this episode of Practicing Catholic, hosts Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger tackle a challenge almost every praying Catholic knows well: sitting down for prayer only to find that silence is anything but quiet inside. Drawing on a year of listener response to their episodes on prayer, Taylor and Scott turn to the question underneath it — why cultivating real silence is so difficult, and why it's essential to the spiritual life anyway.
Scott opens with a passage from St. Teresa of Avila's The Interior Castle, where she urges the soul entering the "second dwelling places" to strip away unnecessary business and busyness, not just sin, in order to progress. From there, the conversation turns practical: Taylor and Scott talk through the real sources of "noise" in their own lives — social media, podcasts, audiobooks, even good and worthy commitments — and how easily these can crowd out the space prayer needs. They discuss concrete habits that have helped them, like resisting the urge to fill a commute with music or podcasts and instead letting the mind settle and process the day, and stress that true silence isn't an empty nothingness but space intentionally filled with communion with God.
The episode closes with each host sharing a personal action item for the week ahead — including a nightly Examen practice with family and a commitment to a silent morning walk — as a practical starting point for anyone hoping to make more room for God in the noise of daily life.
Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com/
Watch Into Great Silence on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/videos/4103291
Sign up for an Augustine Institute Retreat! https://www.augustineinstitute.org/about-pages/retreats-and-conferences

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Taylor, Scott, Jordan, and Emily celebrate one full year of Practicing Catholic with a special anniversary episode! They share never-before-seen bloopers and behind-the-scenes footage, revisit favorite moments from the past year, and reflect on the biggest lessons they've learned about pursuing holiness with consistency rather than intensity.

The crew looks back on standout episodes — the Book of Ruth study, the coffee episode with Father Rennier, and Fr. Ken Geraci's vocation story — while sharing their honest "batting averages" on personal challenges and what saying "yes" to God has taught them about friendship, perseverance, and trust.

Looking ahead, they dream about what Year Two might hold, including taking the show on the road and welcoming even more guests. This episode is a fun, lighthearted look back at a year of practicing holiness in everyday life.

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here:
http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

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What do we do when we're called to Christian joy but find ourselves in difficult, frustrating, or even painful circumstances? Taylor Kemp and Dr. Scott Hefelfinger explore how Catholics can cultivate joy even when life isn't joyful.



Drawing on the witness of Mother Teresa and St. Maximilian Kolbe, they discuss the power of changing our perspective, seeing Christ in others, surrendering our circumstances to God's providence, and turning outward through gratitude and service. They ultimately offer a simple roadmap for difficult seasons: smile, surrender, and serve.



The episode also answers a listener question about what Scripture means by loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.



Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com



Watch Triumph of the Heart on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1507373



Check out the Surrender Novena on the Amen app: https://amenapp.org/prayer/aznmzn

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What can St. Augustine teach us about living a holy life in the modern world? Taylor and Scott welcome Dr. Elizabeth Klein to explore the life, writings, and enduring influence of this great Father and Doctor of the Church. From his conversion and vocation to his love of Scripture, Augustine shows us how holiness grows through saying yes to God, loving the people closest to us, cultivating friendship, and being radically available to those around us.

 

The conversation also explores how Augustine’s thought continues to shape Catholic theology, what we can learn from his approach to Scripture, and how his example can help us resist the egocentrism and isolation of modern life. Plus, the hosts discuss practical ways to pray with Scripture through lectio divina, recommendations for getting started with Augustine’s writings, favorite Bible passages, and personal challenges inspired by the episode.

 

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com

 

Listen to the Catholic Saints Podcast: https://www.augustineinstitute.org/podcast/catholic-saints

 

Watch The Heart of Prayer with Bishop Cozzens on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1473553  

 

Watch Lectio: Prayer on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/115705  

 

Watch an Overview of the Confessions with Dr. Klein and Dr. John Sehorn on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/765930  

 

Take Dr. Klein’s short course on Augustine’s Confessions: https://courses.augustineinstitute.org/courses/the-confessions-of-st-augustine

 

Purchase Dr. Klein’s book, “What Every Catholic Should Know about God”: https://catholic.market/books/god-what-every-catholic-should-know/

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What happens when a family places faith, beauty, and artistic excellence at the center of family life? Taylor Kemp sits down with the Wolavers of the Annie Moses Band to talk about music, parenting, the arts, and their mission to help families raise children who can use their God-given talents for His glory.

 

The conversation explores why the arts matter for evangelization, how parents can introduce music and artistic disciplines to their children, the importance of community and perseverance, and how families can reclaim the arts from a culture of fame and self-promotion. The Wolavers also share practical advice for parents who did not grow up in musical families and reflect on the beauty of building a family tradition together.  

 

Have a question or topic idea for future episodes? Submit them here: http://practicingcatholicpodcast.com/

 

Watch the Wonderful World of Benjamin Cello on Formed: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/226781

 

Watch the Annie Moses Show here: https://app.formed.org/app/collections/1125806

 

Learn more about the Wolaver family here: https://www.anniemoses.org

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