***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this powerful episode of Hope Stories with Sister Josephine, Gillian Jenkins, a Catholic wife and mother from Beaumont, Texas, opens her heart about what it’s like to love the Church deeply while being hurt by it. Gillian shares her journey from faith-filled childhood to Catholic conversion, and the pain of realizing that the Church she...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this moving episode of Hope Stories with Sister Josephine, Catholic media pioneer Lisa Wheeler, founder of Carmel Communications in Tyler, Texas, opens her heart about faith, family, and finding God again after walking away from the Church. Lisa shares her Emmaus moment in Washington, D.C., where a mysterious voice and a miraculous expe...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this deeply moving episode of Hope Stories, Sister Josephine sits down with Samantha Povlok, founder of FemCatholic, mother of four, and survivor of religious trauma, to explore the raw and courageous journey of healing after childhood abuse that was intertwined with her Catholic formation. Samantha shares how her experience of trauma, ...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Hope Stories, Sister Josephine Garrett is joined by June Jameson, a Catholic artist and mother of nine, to share her story of crisis, suffering, and ultimately, spiritual restoration. From the outside, June’s life appeared “perfect," a faithful Catholic family, a thriving home, and beautiful ch...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this deeply moving episode of Hope Stories, Sister Josephine Garrett sits down with her lifelong friend Nubia Torres, a Catholic woman and immigration advocate whose life and career have been devoted to serving vulnerable immigrant populations. With candor, vulnerability, and spiritual insight, Nubia shares her journey of living out her...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this episode of Hope Stories, Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, sits down with Kelly Breaux, co-founder of Red Bird Ministries, to share her powerful story of loss, faith, and healing. Kelly and her husband, Ryan, endured the unimaginable pain of losing two of their three children, an experience that left her reeling in grief, angry at God, ...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** When Emily Frase started blogging, she didn’t expect to become one of the boldest voices challenging the way the Catholic Church talks about Natural Family Planning (NFP). In this episode, Emily sits down with Sister Josephine to share the deeply personal story behind her ministry, Total Whine, a story marked by traumatic births, spiritual...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this heartfelt episode of Hope Stories, Sister Josephine welcomes Noelle Garcia, Catholic speaker, mom of six, and ministry veteran, for a powerful conversation about worship, wounds, and staying when it would have been easier to walk away. Noelle opens up about experiencing deep pain and disillusionment while working in the Church, fro...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** In this powerful episode, Sister Josephine welcomes Father Thomas Berg, Ph.D., priest of the Archdiocese of New York, professor, author, and former member of the Legionaries of Christ. His deeply personal and courageous testimony explores what it means to stay in the Church after profound betrayal, spiritual abuse, and disillusionment. Tog...

***This podcast deals with mature topics such as personal struggles, abuse, or trauma. Certain episodes may not be appropriate for sensitive ears.*** Welcome to Season 3 of Hope Stories with Sister Josephine. In this Season 3 opening episode, Sister Josephine Garrett shares how the mission of this podcast is shifting into even deeper territory: what it means to hurt in the Church and still hope. Inspired by the Jubilee Year of Hope and Isaiah 61, Sister Josephine invites us to walk with...

In this episode of Hope Stories, Sister Josephine Garrett meets with Dan and Bethany Meola, the founders of Life Giving Wounds. They discuss the impact of growing up as adult children of divorce and the healing journey experienced by Dan. They share insights into their ministry, which seeks to support others facing similar wounds and reflect deeply on their faith and personal testimonies. Bethany provides an outside perspective on how Dan's past affected their relationship and marriage. Toget...

In this episode of the Hope Stories podcast, Sister Josephine Garrett welcomes her close friend Betsy Jenkins, a dedicated mother of two boys diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Betsy shares her heartfelt journey, from the early diagnosis of her sons to the struggles and triumphs of managing their conditions. She discusses how her background in child development prepared her to advocate for her children and how her faith in God has played a crucial role in her family's life. Betsy also reflects o...

In this episode of Hope Stories, Sister Josephine Garrett talks with Emily Dery, a multi-passionate mother of four, about the challenges of postpartum depression and anxiety. Emily shares her personal experiences with three of her pregnancies, the varied symptoms she faced, and how it impacted her family life. She reflects on her path to diagnosis, the support systems that helped her, and the role of her faith and family in her recovery. The conversation dives deep into the importance of ment...

In this episode of Hope Stories with Sister Josephine Garrett, Amanda Smith, a Catholic therapist and executive director at NAMI, shares her insights on borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the transformative potential of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). They discuss the profound emotional pain and fear of abandonment experienced by individuals with BPD, the societal and self-stigmatization of the disorder, and the importance of early intervention and treatment. Amanda emphasizes the ...

In this episode of the Hope Stories podcast, Sister Josephine Garrett welcomes her lifelong friend Maribel Laguna, a licensed professional counselor supervisor and founder of Cor Sacrum Counseling and Consulting. They discuss the unique experiences of first-generation Mexican American women and the mental health challenges they face navigating multiple cultural worlds. Maribel shares her personal journey towards integration and healing through therapy and EMDR, as well as her appreciation for...

In this episode of the Hope Stories podcast, Sister Josephine Garrett explores the deeply personal and often overlooked experience of infertility with Anne Koshute, co-founder of the Catholic infertility ministry, Springs in the Desert. Anne shares her journey of dealing with infertility, its mental health implications, and the complex emotions of grief, shame, and identity it brings. The conversation highlights the importance of pastoral care in the church, the support needed from clergy, an...

In this episode of the Hope Stories podcast, Sister Josephine discusses the vital topic of attachment with Rebecca Schall, LPC, a licensed professional counselor from East Texas. Rebecca delves into the intricacies of attachment wounds—emotional injuries from unmet relational needs—and their impact on mental health and faith. She shares her personal journey of overcoming attachment wounds through God's relentless love and professional counseling. The discussion highlights the integration of c...

In this episode, Chris Miller shares his personal journey battling depression and his extensive work in mental health education and advocacy. As a Silicon Valley resident, school teacher, and youth minister, Chris discusses the impact of depression on his life, the importance of hope, and the various coping mechanisms he's employed, including medication and therapy. Chris also discusses his involvement in legislative and pastoral efforts to improve mental health awareness and support. His sto...

This episode discusses mature topics surrounding mental health and includes a mention of suicidal ideation. If you are in crisis, please call, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text or chat with the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.In this episode of 'Hope Stories,' the focus is on the complex and deeply spiritual reality of adoption. Guest Jess Echeverry shares her profound personal experiences with adoption, homelessness, and trauma. Through her testimony, Jess r...

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, shares a deeply personal account of his struggle with anxiety and depression, largely triggered by the clergy abuse scandal. Bishop Conley recounts how his overwhelming responsibilities and traumatic events led to a profound psychological crisis, resulting in a diagnosis of PTSD and major depressive disorder. Seeking healing, he took a leave of absence, during which he received medical, psychological, and spiritual support. Throughout his journey, key...