The Follow to Lead Podcast

#104: “Pope Francis’ Impact on Catholic Education” with Dr. Brett Graham Fawcett

You won’t want to miss this episode of “Follow to Lead!”

As we celebrate the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8, please join Dr. Brett Graham Fawcett and Fr. Randy Sly in a retrospective on the late Pope Francis’ impact on Catholic Education. As a Jesuit educator, the pope spent his early years as a teacher of Literature and Psychology in Jesuit Schools. He later taught theology and served as a seminary rector. On this episode Brett will take us on a in-depth look at his background in Catholic Education and how it formed his papacy as well as his initiatives in Catholic Education.

#103: “The Communication Mission of Catholic Schools with Kate Sell of Mission Advancement Partners

The communications mission of a Catholic school is often ignored or underutilized. On today’s edition of “Follow to Lead” we’ll be joined by Kate Sell, Founder and Managing Partner of Mission Advancement Partners in a discussion on this vital aspect of our Educational mission. Today we will be focusing mostly on external communications, what needs to be said to families, friends and stakeholders through traditional means and the new avenues of social media.

This will be an enlightening and vitally important program for leaders and educators, especially as our media appetite has changed significantly in recent years. You want want to miss this program!

#102: ENCORE - “Artificial Intelligence and Catholic Education” with Matthew Sanders, Founder and CEO of Longbeard

This week on an Encoure Edition of “Follow to Lead” we will be talking with Matthew Sanders, Founder and CEO of Longboard, whose focus is developing Artificial Intelligence products for the mission of the Church. This is, perhaps, one of the most fascinating interviews we have ever had on our podcast.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. It can be daunting, challenging and can sometimes even bring fear as we see AI more and more involved in our daily lives. In this interview, Matthew takes some of the mystery out of the world of AI, shows how it can be harnessed powerfully for the work of the Church and, in particular, how will continue to impact Catholic Education. You won’t want to miss this program!

#101: ENCORE - “Encountering Beauty in a Noisy Culture” - Jimmy Mitchell, Dir of Campus Ministry, Jesus Tampa

On this ENCORE episode of Follow to Lead, we will be talking with Jimmy Mitchell  about the amazing “culture of conversion” that exists at Jesuit High School, Tampa, Florida. Students are encountering the Lord and being transformed as they experience the beauty of the Gospel in word, deed and visually. We will also talk to Jimmy about his book: “Let Beauty Speak: The Art of Being Human in a Culture of Noise.”

#100: “A Change in Leadership” with Kyle Pietrantonio, founding Executive Director of DIA

On March 3, Kyle Pietrantonio announced that he would be transitioning out as Executive Director of Duc In Altum Schools Collaborative, in order to move to a different position in Christ’s vineyard of Catholic Education. On today’s program, we want to give Kyle an opportunity to share his heart and continued vision for the work of DIA as we endeavor to move forward into the future God has for us. As the co-founder of the podcast, I’m especially going to miss our collaboration and co-hosting.

#99: “Spriritual Growth and Faith Permeation in Catholic Schools” with Dr. Brett Fawcett

This is the final episode of “Beyond Faculty Faith Formation,” a special four-part series of podcasts looking at ways that Catholic educators can enhance their own spiritual growth and development, deepening their faith in Christ and strengthening their life in the Church.

Dr. Brett Fawcett, who just finished defending his doctoral dissertation on Faith Permeation, will join us to discuss how our personal faith plays a role in faith permeation, what Dr. Brett Salkeld would call “making every class Catholic.”

#98: “Resources for Spiritual Growth” with Deborah Nearmyer and Austin Krause from St. James Academy

This is the third episode of “Beyond Faculty Faith Formation,” a special four-part series of podcasts looking at ways that Catholic educators can enhance their own spiritual growth and development, deepening their faith in Christ and strengthening their life in the Church.

In this episode Deborah Nearmyer, Vice-President of Faith and Mission and Austin Krause, Director of Campus Ministry at St. James Academy, Lenexa, KS, discuss thoughts, ideas and resources that can be helpful for teachers and administrators in their spiritual walk. We also will get an overview of the Faculty Faith Formation program at St. James.

#97: “Spiritual Refreshing and Renewal” with Betsy Orr, Founder and President of The Retreat at Heritage.

This is the second episode of “Beyond Faculty Faith Formation,” a special series of podcasts looking at ways that Catholic educators can enhance their own spiritual growth and development, deepening their faith in Christ and strengthening their life in the Church.

In addition to talking about spiritual renewal, on today’s “Follow to Lead” Betsy Orr will share about her background, her conversion to the Catholic Faith, the Retreat at Heritage Center, along with some amazing God-moments and other ministries in which she is involved. You won’t want to miss this program!

#96: “The Wisdom Papers” with Dr. Roger Nutt, Provost of Ave Maria University

In this podcast we are beginning a special series entitled “Beyond Faculty Faith Formation,” giving those in Catholic Education some ideas to spur individual growth both spiritual and intellectually in their Catholic Faith. Today we are talking with Dr. Roger Nutt, Provost and Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University about a new university initiative called “The Wisdom Papers.”

The Wisdom Papers is a free, monthly series of reflections on contemporary issues from the faculty of Ave Maria University. Topics span across politics, culture, spirituality, the sciences, and living a Christian life. Go deeper in your pursuit of wisdom with The Wisdom Papers. Inspiring. Accessible. Delivered to your mailbox or inbox. Available in print or digitally. Join us on this edition of “Follow to Lead” to learn more about this wonderful initiative from Ave Maria University.

In a correction of the reference to the domain for The Wisdom Papers online, the sit can be reached at: https://www.wisdompapers.org/.

 

#95: “Are We Making People Feel Welcome at School?” with Terry Poplava, General Manager of ACST Catholic, a branch of ACS Technologies

ACS Technologies examined the theological beliefs of 15,000 Americans with their ground-breaking “American Beliefs Study: Religious Preferences and Practices,” originally conducted in 2013 and then repeated in 2017 and 2021. Out of this survey, Terry Poplava observed, “In the American Beliefs Study, newcomers reported that ‘warm and friendly encounters’ were highly important to them. We were specifically interested in the behaviors and circumstances that foster this kind of environment in a parish.” His follow up study in this area is the subject of this edition of “Follow to Lead” as we look at Catholic Schools through the lens of “warm and friendly” encounters.