Most people see a priest at Mass. Fr. Michael Alello sees a city: 3,500 families, a K–8 school with 1,400 kids, 200 staff, and a never-ending stream of moments that demand instant gear-shifts—carpool smiles at 7:30, crisis counseling at 8, a funeral at 10. In this unfiltered conversation, he lays out a real leadership framework: saying “yes” to your vocation daily, making unpopular decisions for the greater good, and staying approachable without pretending to be perfect. He breaks down how he fills his cup—silent retreats, Monday solitude, training for marathons and an Ironman—and why physical discipline and spiritual practice are the same muscle. You’ll also hear the pivot after a thyroid-cancer scare two months before the Marine Corps Marathon and the courage it took to learn to swim with a high-school team at 6 a.m. If you lead people (or want to), this episode is a masterclass in service under pressure.
What you’ll learn
A repeatable system to lead and care without burning out
How to switch emotional gears fast—and still show up present
Decision rules for making unpopular calls the right way
Practical “fill your cup” habits (silence, exercise, boundaries)
Why physical training strengthens spiritual resilience
How to face diagnosis/fear with action, not avoidance
About Fr. Michael Alello
Pastor of St. Aloysius (Baton Rouge); diocesan priest (18+ years); chaplain, endurance athlete (marathons & Ironman); community leader across parish and school.
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Keywords: leadership under pressure, priesthood, parish management, emotional agility, burnout prevention, silence & retreat, endurance sport, Ironman, thyroid cancer scare, spiritual discipline, St. Aloysius, Baton Rouge, Fr. Michael Alello