The Follow to Lead Podcast

#107: “Pope Leo XIV: His Papacy and What It May Mean for Catholic Education” with Dr. Daniel Lendman, Assistant Professor of Catholic theology at Ave Maria University.

On May 8, 2025, white smoke at the Vatican signaled the election of a new pope, Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo, an Augustinian, is the first American who has ascended to this position. While born in the United States, he spent many years in ministry in Peru and, later, at the Vatican. Today Fr. Randy Sly and Dr. Daniel Lindman, of Ave Maria University will share information and perspectives about our new pope and what his papacy may mean in the world of Catholic Education.

#106: “Digital Deception: Scammers Targeting Faith” with Theresa Payton, CEO of Fortalice Solutions

Faculty, Staff, Students and their families at Catholic Schools are among new targets for online scamming as scammers focus on elder and religious fraud. Join Fr. Randy Sly and Theresa Payton, the first female White House Chief Information Officer under President George W. Bush and known as one of the nation's top advisors on cybercrime, in talking about this issue.

We will discuss a new nationwide initiative is being launched to confront a disturbing and fast-growing trend: scammers exploiting the elderly, celebrities, clergy and their followers through sophisticated online fraud schemes. Driven by the alarming rise in digital deception targeting religious audiences, this campaign will educate families, warn seniors and equip faith communities to recognize and report scams.

#105: “Mental Health Mentoring” with Dr. Greg Bottaro of CatholicPsych Institute

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Over the last 25 years, there are more people in therapy and more people receiving medication for mental health struggles than ever before, with nearly every metric indicating downturns as it pertains to suicide, gender dysphoria, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Join us on this episode of “Follow to Lead” as Dr. Greg Bottaro, Founder and Director of the CatholicPsych Institute, talks about Integrated Daily Dialogic Mentorship (IDDM) or “Mentorship,” which is breakthrough model of accompaniment that is offering hope and healing to patients who have been stagnant in self-destructive behavioral patterns for years. This mentorship model also provides great opportunities for wellness in Catholic schools.

#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.