205.9K
Downloads
98
Episodes
How do we interpret and understand what God is calling us to, both in our vocation and in other life choices? Join Stacey Sumereau on coffee dates with Catholic friends for insight and inspiring guidance. From touring with Broadway hit shows to discerning religious life on Lifetime’s reality TV show ”The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns,” Stacey hasn’t stopped searching for God’s will! Original music by JF Church.
Episodes
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
Wednesday Mar 18, 2020
Nothing is normal, including this Spirit-led Conference I'm launching Friday 3.20.2020. BE NOT AFRAID is a wild idea Holy Spirit put in my head last Sunday (yes, that's 3 days ago,) to launch this Friday (yes that's FIVE DAYS to launch an entire conference!!!!) You can get all signed up here.
Today is Wednesday, 3 days after I started reaching out to speakers and 2 days after marketing began.
3,102 people registered for the conference.
Over 30 speakers presenting.
WHAT IS HAPPENING Holy Spirit? I never, ever get to use the word "impossible" as long as I live!
Here are the BE NOT AFRAID speakers/musicians so far:
Stacey Sumereau. Jackie Francois Angel. Bobby Angel. Mary Lenaburg. Leah Darrow. Fr. Rob Galea. Fr. Jared Cooke. Sr. Miriam James Heidland. Heather Khym. Michelle Benzinger. Liv Harrison. Ashley Dean. Sarah Swafford. Fr. Barry Braum. Ali Hoffman. Johnny Philp. Maria Abbe. Melissa Grace Tablada. Kathryn Whitaker. Nick Dela Torre. Alina Dela Torre. Katie Prejean McGrady. Mike Tenney. Lauren Montgomery. Allison Sullivan. Fr. Stephen Gadberry. Joshua Mazrin. Annie Deddens. Joe Melendrez. Melissa Davies. Stephen Davies. Lindsay Schlegel. Taylor Schroll. Kelsey Skoch. Emily Stimpson Chapman. Marie Miller. Meg Hunter-Kilmer. Hannah Schaefer.
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
“If he’s calling us to something, we don’t have to worry about what we lose in answering that call.”
A working theory of mine about discernment is that it leads you to what you really want. Yup, you read that right. You get what YOU really want. I believe this because I believe that when God designed us, he planted desire for his plans deep in our hearts. Our deepest desire and his desire are the same thing. Discernment is the process of sorting through all the lesser, fluffy layers and discovering that core desire, kind of like a miner goes through layers before striking gold.
Why am I introducing an episode about sex this way? Because discerning what we most deeply want for our relationships is the same thing as discovering God's plan for relationships. And that desire God has given us is chastity (no that's not synonymous with abstinence.) Chastity sounds boring, but it's incredibly life-giving. YES John and I as married people need to live out chastity...and I geek out a bit with our personal testimony of how that looks in married life.
Arleen Spenceley has been on the front lines of explaining and defending chastity for years, from publishing articles in newspapers with her testimony of happy virginity to writing her book Chastity is for Lovers. Whether you're single, married, or religious, you'll learn something new and be equipped to live both counter-culturally and happily.
Topics Discussed
- How the martyrs had enough trust in God to die for him
- Chastity vs. abstinence: THEY’RE SO DIFFERENT
- The deep ache of wanting validation and how to deal with it
- The one indispensable thing you need to live out chastity
- How far is too far?
- Forgiving yourself if you’ve made past mistakes
Resources
- iMom.com: A wonderful resource for moms for which Arleen is an editor and Stacey is a contributor
- Arleen’s book Chastity is for Lovers
- CBN.com/unhooked
- Melanie Smith’s episode of Called and Caffeinated
Enjoying Called and Caffeinated? Please consider supporting Stacey's ministry by joining the Called and Caffeinated Patreon community. Video chats with Stacey and fellow community members, exclusive access to Stacey's faith and lifestyle podcast Coffee Sips, and week-long self-paced spiritual challenges all included starting at just $5 per month! Click here to check it out and discern it :)
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
"The woman at the well and Jesus- what did they have in common? A love of cold water on a hot day. Our Lord, in his very tender willingness to come to our level, finds what we have in common and that’s the beginning of the conversation."
I have so many questions about being a Catholic in the USA today. What should guide our decision when choosing a movie? How do we evangelize and communicate effectively when our culture is losing the ability to dialogue? How do we lovingly challenge someone whose values differs from ours? How closely should we be following the Amazon synod and crisis in the Church? What should we do to maintain our Faith when disturbing news from the Vatican wrecks our peace?
When I first made my list of dream guests for this show in 2018, Patrick Coffin was on it. Dreams do come true! If you think I'm a good interviewer, it's because of Patrick. I binge-watched the Patrick Coffin show on YouTube. He was the host of Catholic Answers Live for over a decade and has interviewed almost literally EVERYBODY. I'm beyond thrilled to share this verbophile's take on discerning our Catholic response to popular culture.
This interview is guaranteed to bump up your IQ at least a few points, or your money back ;)
Topics Discussed
- The interplay between my will and God’s will
- The fascinating story of how Patrick had a disastrous audition for Catholic Answers Live, and how he knew he was called
- Seeking the incarnation and discerning our personal tolerance in our movie consumption
- Debate about hot topic issues on social media, or no?
- Authentic masculinity
- The power of mimetic activity
- What does it mean that God is a jealous God?
- How to become unafraid to evangelize
- Church crisis and Amazon synod: Follow like it's your job? Ignore?
Resources
- Cursillo movement
- Mike Rowe: "Don’t Follow Your Passion"
- Call of the Void Movie co-written by Patrick Coffin
- Encyclicals on movie consumption: Vigilante Cura and Miranda Proursus
- The Tree of Life and To the Wonder directed by Terence Malick
- One of Patrick’s interviews with Jordan Peterson
- Patrick's interview with Milo Yiannopoulos
This episode is sponsored by the Beloved and Worthy Challenge, a 7-day scriputral retreat for claiming and living out of your true identity as a beloved child of God. Every purchase supports Stacey's ministry! Get yours here.
You can get the Beloved and Worthy Challenge FREE (as well as access to all future challenges) when you join Stacey's Patreon community. Membership starts at just $5/mo and includes exclusive access to Coffee Sips, Stacey's other podcast, and monthly video chats with Stacey. Discern joining here!
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
“God’s primary calls come to you through a combination of opportunity, interest, and talent.”
Have you ever felt as though you're too young, too old, unqualified, overqualified, or in some other way inadequate? The devil LOVES to make us believe that we have to be something other than we are to successfully start tackling God's callings. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God uses every single part of our story for the glory of His Kingdom. Owning your story means accepting your individuality, rejecting comparison, allowing him to redeem your wounds, recognizing how God is working in the mess, and realizing that every moment is valuable...including the waiting for your vocation.
I first encountered Emily Stimpson Chapman on Instagram. Writing is Emily's gift and calling for processing her story and sharing beauty and truth with the world. There were multiple topics I knew she'd provide valuable insight on...so we're covering (almost) all of them!
Topics Discussed
- Seeing your own story in light of salvation history
- “Vocational orphanhood:” staying strong for those who are single into their 30s and 40s
- How it took NINE years of vacillating between dating and friendship before Emily and her husband finally tied the knot
- Processing and sharing the difficult parts of your story
- How a sacramental worldview saved Emily from an eating disorder
- Process scars, not wounds
- Emily’s method of her effective Instagram evangelization mission
Resources
- Emily’s website and NEW Cookbook to fund her next adoption
- Scott Hahn: A Father Who Keeps His Promises
- Paul Center Bible Study: A Journey Through Scripture, Genesis to Jesus
- Jeff Cavins: Bible Timeline
- The Catholic Girl’s Survival Guide to the Single Years by Emily Stimpson Chapman
Today's episode is sponsored by the Cathoholics podcast. Find it here!
To buy curated high-quality gift boxes, visit Pillar and Pearl's website. Every purchase supports Emily as well as a community of Catholic artisans.
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
Tuesday Jan 28, 2020
"Don't persevere in something that's wrong just for the sake of looking like you know where you're going."
What's the physical aspect of a Catholic marriage really like? What does that woman you want to ask out really want? Should you go on a date with that guy you only like as a friend?
Paul J. Kim is one of the most sought-after speakers today and I had the privilege of sitting down with him to unpack all those things single people need to hear that few people will say. We also dove into Paul's vocation story which included many u-turns and what some would call "wasting time" as a monk for several years (hint: it wasn't.) Hilarious and relevant, I know you'll love hearing Paul's perspective as much as I did.
Topics Discussed
- Why you shouldn’t be afraid of “wasting time” by discerning religious life
- Fighting in marriage: things single people should know
- Red flags: is this a showstopper?
- Building a kingdom mindset: God has a plan for singlehood and waiting
- How to become a good conversationalist, and MANY other dating tips for guys
Resources
- Paul's website
- Find Paul on social: Insta: @heypjk, Twitter: @pjkmusic
- The Art of Manliness: 5 Do's and Don'ts of Conversation Etiquette
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
“We fear rejection, but living in the mediocrity of being used is painful in a different way because of its emptiness. The Lord wants to free us from that so we can live in authentic joy.”
Walking down a busy New York City street in a flowing blue and white habit and veil would force you to really think about your, your motivations, and what you stand for, eh? I got to sit down in person with Sr. Bethany Madonna for coffee at the National Catholic Youth Conferences where we were both blessed to be speakers. For those of us who aren't nuns, Sr. Bethany cuts to the heart of what's important and how to live an authentic life surrendered to God. Surrender has been the hardest, most necessary, and most freeing part of my spiritual growth and I'm THRILLED I get to share this conversation with you.
Topics Discussed
- Finding courage to speak up for what’s right
- Creating a space for God to fill in your heart
- The tipping point where Sr. Bethany became excited to be a nun (she didn’t want it for a long time!)
- God fulfilling the love language of physical touch in religious life
- Charism of the Sisters of Life
- We’re all addicted to something
Resources
This episode is sponsored by the Serving the Aged Lovingly Today (SALT) Mission Program hosted by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. To learn more and apply for this FREE mission opportunity, visit www.carmelitesisters.com/SALT-program
This episode is also sponsored by Delphina Rose Art. Use code CALLED for 10% off your first order! https://delphinaroseart.com
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Monday Dec 30, 2019
“There is such a great joy of missing out. When we say no to something, we’re saying yes to something greater.”
Funny story: I recorded this episode two days before posting my foot-washing post that went viral (over 17.6 million Facebook views so far!) After recording this episode I took a project I wanted to do to prayer and discerned that I'm called to prioritize my marriage, first and foremost. And then 2 days later God used my surrender to reach incredible numbers of people!
She's young but wise- my guest today Melissa Grace Tablada juggles her calls of being an NFP instructor, marriage and family therapist, wife, and SoulCore fitness instructor. If you're constantly trying to find the balance between handling a busy life and feeling burned out and overcommitted, you'll love our timely conversation as we roll into the new year. If you're like me, turning down new projects is hard, but we also know that ONLY God can be productive 24/7. Enjoy!
Topics Discussed:
- Just busy or overcommited?
- Simple processes for ruling out what you aren’t called to
- Discipline when you’re a creative who wants to do all the things
- Prioritizing for busy married people
- Setting up your space and prayer routine
- Prioritizing for single people
- The joy of missing out
Resources
- New Website: melissagracetablada.com
- Melissa’s YouTube Channel
- Instagram: @melissagracetablada
- Jason and Crystalina Evert: How to Find Your Soulmate Without Losing Your Soul
This episode is sponsored by the Serving the Aged Lovingly Today (SALT) Mission Program hosted by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. To learn more and apply for this FREE mission opportunity, visit www.carmelitesisters.com/SALT-program
This episode is also sponsored by Delphina Rose Art. Use code CALLED for 10% off your first order! https://delphinaroseart.com
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
Tuesday Dec 17, 2019
“When you truly know yourself, then you truly don’t care what anyone thinks of you.”
This episode was originally supposed to be called “How Should You Spend Your Teen Years?” However, my conversation with Mike Tenney covers issues that extend far beyond our teen years for many of us: insecurity, comparison, self-image problems, fear of commitment, pressure to perform/pick a public image, negotiating attraction and dating, and building your interior castle. Mike is a dynamic speaker and high school teacher, (we went to Catholic U together back in the day!) and he’s the real deal when it comes to connecting deep spiritual issues to everyday life. You’ll be healed, illuminated, and will find gems to help you live more intentionally sprinkled all over this episode- I’m so excited to share it with you!
Topics Discussed
- When you think you’re called to an unspecified “something big,” and how to wrestle with that
- The mental shift that helped me stop being so hard on myself
- Becoming a digital disciple
- What you should and shouldn’t prioritize in your teen years
- You are enough, and here’s why
- Should you date in high school? (Mike and I have different opinions on this one!)
- Living by design, not by default
Resources
- Mike Tenney’s website
- Follow Mike on Instagram: @pkmikeyt
- The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
- Emotional Virtue by Sarah Swafford
This episode is sponsored by the Serving the Aged Lovingly Today (SALT) Mission Program hosted by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. To learn more and apply for this FREE mission opportunity, visit www.carmelitesisters.com/SALT-program
This episode is also sponsored by Delphina Rose Art. Use code CALLED for 10% off your first order! https://delphinaroseart.com
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
Tuesday Dec 03, 2019
“I might not know the meaning of this moment, but if I am convinced that there is a God who loves me then I know that this moment has meaning.”
The man, the myth, the legend: It's Fr. Mike Schmitz!!! If you’ve ever wanted to know his coffee order, you’ll hear ALL the details right down to his favorite roast here. Also, he shares that he might be Superman. He just might be. And you’ll also hear a fun story from my Broadway National Tour about how the Mayor of Munchkinland got arrested trying to cross the Canadian border. If you’re already a fan of Fr. Mike, you’re going to love our deep dive into all things discernment.
At the end of the episode please enjoy my rendition of my favorite Advent song, Gabriel's Message. Simple, haunting, and unspeakably lovely.
Topics Discussed
- The three levels of God’s calls that can INSTANTLY help you prioritize
- Holier does not always equal harder, but neither should we make decisions to avoid pain
- Avoiding comparison
- A philosophical meander: Is what we feel in consolation most true in God’s plan for us?
- The donuts vs. bacon analogy to help you find your deepest desires
- The simple question that will reveal real motivations
- Handling expectations when life falls short of what you thought
- The real reason you are special, enough, and wanted
- Anxiety: how do you know when it comes from an anxiety disorder or from natural jitters over a decision?
Resources
- Dan and Amber DeMatte’ episode of Called and Caffeinated
- Fr. Mike’s new book, Pray, Decide and Don’t Worry
- A Severe Mercy and Under the Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken
- The “False” Sanction of Eros by Sheldon Vanauken
This episode is sponsored by the Serving the Aged Lovingly Today (SALT) Mission Program hosted by the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm. To learn more and apply for this FREE mission opportunity, visit www.carmelitesisters.com/SALT-program
This episode is also sponsored by Delphina Rose Art. Use code CALLED for 10% off your first order! https://delphinaroseart.com
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
Tuesday Nov 19, 2019
"It’s easy to be hyper-focused on the intention, and to be less focused on what God may want in our life. So we need to make that the right priority in our prayers."
How often have you asked "God, just show me what you want me to do and I'll do it?" Or said, "God, WHY WON'T YOU SHOW ME?" I know I said that to God daily during my discernment of religious life. Today's guest, Annie Deddens, is the founder of Pray More Novenas, a website dedicated to helping Catholics finish their 9 day prayers for specific intentions. We talk about how a novena CAN be used and how it SHOULDN'T be used, Annie's stories of hearing from half a million people around the world who are praying together, and some bonus advice for Catholic entrepreneurs on starting something new. Enjoy!
Topics Discussed
- What is a novena and what is it for?
- Fitting novenas into the bigger picture of discernment: it's not always about the answer
- How Annie and John-Paul started Pray More Novenas together
- When should you start something you feel called to?
- How a novena to St. Therese paved the way for being on my Reality TV show The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns
Resources
- Pray More Novenas- Sign up for FREE Advent Retreat featuring Stacey as a speaker here! (donations optional)
- @CatholicWifeCatholicLife on social media
- St. Joseph Novena: discerning what to study, moving, buying/selling a house, switching jobs
- St. Anne Novena: discerning marriage
- St. Therese Novena: discerning a call to religious life
- Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s episode on Called and Caffeinated
- St. Peregrine Novena- for those suffering from cancer
- Surrender Novena- great for discerning ANYTHING
- Unanswered Prayers on Catholic Wife, Catholic Life