Plugged In - The Official Podcast For Jserra Catholic High School

Fentanyl is now the number one cause of death among American adolescents. Declared a national emergency by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the alarming rise of this drug is that much more precarious due to its deceptive nature and its overpowering addictive qualities. Fifty times more potent than heroine and one hundred times stronger than morphine, the tiniest dose of Fentanyl has lethal implications. Tune into this sobering interview with Orange County Sheriff’s drug education expert and learn what parents can do to protect their sons and daughters from this growing threat. ABOUT THE GUEST Sergeant Brian Gunsolley is a 23-year Orange County Sheriff’s Department veteran with experience working in Corrections, Patrol, and Critical Incident Response Team, as well as serving as a Field Training Officer, Drug Liaison Officer, DUI Task Force member, and School Resource Officer. Sergeant Gunsolley currently supervises the Community Engagement Unit, responsible for providing safety education for schools and th

In this recording of a recent talk given by Fr. Robert Spitzer, the famed author, television host, and international advisor gets into the nitty gritty of the most contentious moral controversies confronting American young people today. With his trademark brilliance-made-simple, Fr. Spitzer identifies the undergirding bases of several modern moral stances and counters each one point by point with clarity and persuasion. Buckle up for this exhilarating, high-speed presentation that will have you on the edge of your seat and eager for more! About Fr. Robert SpitzerFr. Robert Spitzer is a Jesuit priest, the former president of Gonzaga University, and former Rector of JSerra Catholic High School. Fr. has authored over 10 books and made innumerable media appearances including The History Channel PBS series (multi-part series entitled Closer to the Truth), the Today Show (debating euthanasia), and Larry King Live(debating Stephen Hawking). His myriad of published articles has appeared in major publications Philosop

In this episode of Plugged In, Dr. Leonard Sax and his 16-year old daughter Sarah explore the factors contributing to America's current "culture of disrespect." They answer questions such as: What's different about today's teen culture and why does it matter? How much social media is too much? Does limiting your child's social media use make any significant impact? Is TikTok good for my son or daughter? Is there evidence to support decisions around these issues or is all just guesswork? Tune in for the answers to these questions and many more on this month's episode of Plugged In.

Sr. Maria Catherine wasn't always a Jesus fan. Far from it. Before meeting Christ, she was an actress who was involved in a host of non-Christian practices and thought Christianity and its "superstitious belief system" would be the last thing she would ever give in to. Then something changed — dramatically. Tune in to hear how this now deeply committed religious sister took the long road to Christ. In this dynamic podcast, Sr. Maria Catherine shares in depth about her miraculous journey from black magic to the foot of the Cross. You won't believe it until you hear it! ABOUT THE GUEST Sr. Maria Catherine, O.P. is from the great state of Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she worked in various industries but mainly banking and administration before entering the convent. Sister has traveled widely and has been one of a few representatives of her community on The Oprah Winfrey Show. She is a published author in the Catholic San Francisco, The Imaginative Conservative, and Homiletic an

Students struggle in school for a variety of reasons. How do parents recognize when their son or daughter's academic struggle deserves expert attention? How do they help their teenage child to overcome the stigma associated with learning challenges? In this mini-podcast, JSerra's Director of Learning and Academic Support, Drew Clute, tackles a topic which is touching upon more and more parents via their teenagers' academic experience. Drew steps us through the methods and the means parents and teachers can use together in order to hearten young people facing academic trials and arm them with the tools to bring them through with confidence and success. ABOUT THE GUEST Drew Clute is the Director of Learning and Academic Support at JSerra where he oversees multiple programs that provide support for various student groups on campus. Drew earned a bachelor's degree in Recreation Administration Fresno State University (2006) and a certificate in serving under-privileged and at-risk youth. In 2010 he complete his M.

Cara Morales believes that waiting is a necessary part of life and that if we embrace it with the right attitude it not only makes us stronger — it leads us to Christ. Usually, Cara says, we are not very good at waiting. Advent, however, the season of preparation for Christmas, gives us the chance year after year to embrace the reality of waiting and to ask Jesus to wait with us. Cara gives us three practical tips that will focus our hearts and lives on the expectant hope of Jesus in the days leading up to His coming this Christmas. ABOUT THE GUEST Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who divides her career between her private practice and parent coaching. A Franciscan University graduate, Cara was the founding member of JSerra's theology department and campus ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high school's in the country to provide full-time on-campus professional therapy, a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the

JSerra's new Virtue Program has been a smash hit with students and staff, but three months into the project, some parents are asking, "Weren't you doing enough?" JSerra History Teacher, Sr. John Michael of the Dominican Sisters of Ann Arbor, gives a dynamic overview of the big picture around virtues and shares some concrete stories of the fruit it is bearing in the lives of our students. Tune in and get the inside scoop from one of the architects and boots-on-the-ground practitioners of the Dominican Sisters only high school virtue program in the nation. ABOUT THE GUEST Sister John Michael has been in religious life for over ten years. For the past three of those years she has been a JSerra student favorite as a U.S. History and World History instructor. Sister has been pivotal pioneer of the Dominican Virtue Program being piloted on the high school level at JSerra. She grew up near Kansas City, Missouri with four sisters and a brother and enjoys many hobbies — not least of which are hiking, kayaking, playing

Bridget Desmond raised ten children, but that is only a small part of her role as a shaper of young people's lives. In her 16 years as Dean of Discipline at JSerra, she has had thousands of conversations with teenagers about the virtues they are made for and the behaviors that do — or do not — help them reach that destiny. In this 12-minute mini-podcast, Mrs. Desmond shares her wisdom regarding: The "why" and "how" of discipline within a Catholic framework What virtue-based discipline means How to discipline with love What teens who act out are really saying to adults Tips for parents on disciplining with long-term human formation in mind Enjoy this brief conversation with a veteran in forming young people. ABOUT THE GUEST Bridget Desmond, JD, graduated from Loyola University of Los Angeles and attended Loyola Law School. For many years, she was the only woman in an otherwise all-male law firm, practicing law from 1974 through 1983. She joined the staff of JSerra Catholic High School in September of 2005 an

Studies show that affluency, strong skill sets, and the school our children attend are not the most important factors for achieving health, wealth, and happiness. Dr. Leonard Sax shares new findings on the causes of adolescent stress, anxiety, and long-term unhappiness and offers evidence-based criteria for what most impacts a person’s long-term personal and professional success. In this enjoyable and candid conversation, he and special guest, his 9th-grade daughter Sarah, explore the most dangerous cultural threats to our teens' flourishing and offer father-daughter insights about how parents and their high school aged children can navigate safely and securely past these current cultural hazard. ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Leonard Sax provided care for children and adults in a family practice outside Washington, D.C, for more than 18 years. He has spent two decades visiting over 400 schools to research the causes of American adolescent's decline in academic performance and social-emotional well-being. For the past 1

Opinions from Americans vary widely on the subject of Black History Month. Some Black Americans themselves think it does an injustice to their place in our nation's history; others see it as a necessary means for giving adequate honor to their invaluable and often unrecognized contributions. What should Catholic schools do? In this podcast, Fr. Claude Williams shares his view on a topic of increasing tension within our culture. Tune in and hear about how he as a life-long Catholic, long-time educator, and a dedicated follower of Christ addresses this and other matters that touch on the delicate and often contentious issue of race and racial reconciliation. ABOUT THE GUEST Father Claude Williams, O.Praem., is a native of New Orleans. After attending Catholic schools from kindergarten through his sophomore year in college, he joined the Norbertine order and was ordained a Catholic priest in 2009. Fr. Claude has spent most of his priesthood in Catholic education, as a classroom teacher, Vice Dean for Students, a

What makes Catholic schools what they are? What's the secret to their success? Dominican Sister, Sr. Maria Catherine, shares her insights about the exceptional qualities students and their families are finding as they make their way in large numbers to Catholic schools, many for the first time. A product of the public school system herself, Sister explains the reticence she had to Catholic education – even after she made her religious vows – and the surprise she experienced when she finally saw firsthand what Catholic schools were all about. Listen in as she unpacks the unique model of forming students for lifelong happiness that are at the center of JSerra and all strong Catholic schools. ABOUT THE GUEST Sr. Maria Catherine, O.P. is from the great state of Texas. After graduating from the University of Texas at Austin, she worked in various industries but mainly banking and administration before entering the convent. Sister has traveled widely and has been one of a few representatives of her community on The

Tune in as licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and founding JSerra faculty member, Cara Morales, goes toe to toe with the number one challenge facing parents today: their relationship with their teenagers. She offers inspiring insights on the centrality of strong relationships for our children's success in school and beyond, and explains why our connection with them is their best hope for navigating a jarringly secular culture and achieving overall happiness. She also shares tricks and tips for building bonds with teen children that will produce behaviors and outcomes every parent wants for their sons and daughters. ABOUT THE GUEST Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who divides her career between her private practice and JSerra Catholic High School. A wife and mother of three, she is the founding member of JSerra's Theology Department and Campus Ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high schools in the country to provide full-time,

Kevin Matthews is a Chicago radio legend known for hilarious characters, outlandish pranks, huge comedy festivals, and wild parties with celebrities. After being diagnosed with MS in 2008, he began to take his faith more seriously. In 2011, standing outside a flower shop, he spotted a statue lying beside a dumpster. It was a statue of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, broken in two and missing her hands. Dumbfounded by the disrespect shown the statue, he took it home. From that moment on, Kevin began to experience the unmistakable presence of God and the urgent need to tell everyone he could about the love of Jesus and his Mother. Join him as he recounts his remarkable discovery of the transforming power of Broken Mary. ABOUT THE GUEST Kevin Matthews spent 17 years as the drive-time radio host for AM 1000 The Loop, and ABC and CBS radio in Chicago. The man behind the voice of a host of characters including his sidekick sports commentator, Jim Shorts, Matthews entertained ten million listeners weekly. During his time

George Floyd's death sparked an avalanche of protests around the nation aimed at ending police brutality and anti-black racism. What has ensued has been an inflammatory and divisive public discussion about systemic racism, the origins of Black Lives Matter, statistics on police shootings, and the validity or invalidity of White Fragility. During this in-depth podcast, Damon Owens speaks candidly from his vantage point as a Black American and from his convictions as a follower of Christ. With honesty and substance, Damon explains why many Black Americans feel the way they do at this time in history and why a genuine Catholic response offers the only way forward to authentic interracial healing. ABOUT THE GUEST Damon Owens is an international speaker, evangelist, and the executive director of Joyful Ever After, a ministry for married couples. Since leaving a successful career as an engineer, he has spent the good part of 20 years ministering to people in need of healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation. For the

Physician, psychologist, and best-selling author Dr. Leonard Sax returns to Plugged In with insights into the latest science around the pandemic, teen anxiety, and ways parents can navigate our current reality. This episode is packed with Dr. Sax's customary brilliance, wit, and sound advice as he offers analysis on everything from knives in German kindergartens to the right number of minutes our kids should spend on social media. Drawing on the latest research and from his fourth book, The Collapse of Parenting, Dr. Sax provides timely wisdom on best practices for parents that serve as a guidepost for the current circumstances of the pandemic as well for forming healthy and virtuous habits in our adolescents that will last them a lifetime ABOUT THE GUEST Dr. Leonard Sax provided care for children and adults in a family practice outside Washington, D.C, for more than 18 years. He has spent two decades visiting over 400 schools to research the causes of American adolescent’s decline in academic performance and

Who doesn’t like school in their pajamas? As teens enter week nine of the COVID shutdown, parents are seeing the novelty of stay-at-home school wearing off — and trying to deal with the consequences. In this episode, counselors Olivia Huie and Cara Morales share insights as educators and moms on how to help quarantined teens cope and parents stay sane! Week nine of the shelter-in-place has almost everyone on edge. What seemed like a dream come true to teenagers has become more like an unbearably monotonous version of Groundhog Day. High school students are now reporting a host of conflicting reactions to being isolated from their normal outlets for support. Some are anxious and depressed; others are bored and unmotivated. How can parents deal with such a myriad of issues and manage their own work-from-home schedule simultaneously? JSerra counselors Olivia Huie and Cara Morales tag-team in this Plugged In episode to offer sound and timely advice for working moms and dads with kids. With humor and wisdom, and t

Do good guys and girls always finish last? Not according to JSerra Athletic Director Chris Ledyard. Chris shares with parents the secrets of raising great kids through the medium of sports and shares his strategy for teaching young people how to achieve excellence in mind, heart, and spirit without sacrificing excellence on the field. In his short tenure as JSerra Catholic High School's Athletic Director, Chris Ledyard has created a culture of transformational coaching that forms student-athletes in Christian character without sacrificing wins. In today's podcast, Chris explains how virtue-based athletics is the key to unlocking young people's God-given potential — the potential not only to excel physically, but to overcome adversity, respond to life's greatest challenges, and ultimately to love their neighbors as themselves. Chris Ledyard spent more than twenty years at the helm of the athletic program at Franciscan University in Steubenville before joining JSerra in October 2016. During his tenure at Franc

In this episode of Plugged In, host Pat Reidy discusses the pro-life movement with activist Lila Rose, who describes her pro-life journey starting at 15 years old. Rose handles the delicate topic with love, compassion, and eloquence. Lila Rose is a speaker, writer, podcast host, and human rights activist who speaks internationally on faith, family and cultural issues. founded and serves as president of Live Action, a media and news nonprofit dedicated to ending abortion and inspiring a culture that respects all human life. She has addressed members of the European Parliament and the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women. Rose has been named among the National Journal's "25 Most Influential Washington Women Under 35," and Christianity Today's "33 under Thirty-Three." She is also the host of The Lila Rose Show, a podcast that tackles faith, relationships, culture and politics. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Lila and her husband reside in Los Angeles.

Is teen life really that stressful? Are adults over-diagnosing teen "anxiety"? Join this insightful conversation with veteran teen therapist and speaker, Mary Naimie. Mary gives us the real scoop on today's teen pressures, discusses their legitimacy, and suggests ways parents can navigate a whole new adolescent world. Mary Naimie, LCSW, is an Orange County-based licensed clinical social worker, therapist, and Brain Health Coach who specializes in treating high-achieving teens. Over the past 20 years, she has worked with hundreds of adolescents suffering from stress and high anxiety and has developed coping mechanisms for both teens and their parents. Mary received her Master's from UC Berkeley and speaks regularly on how teens and families can manage the pressures of today's competitive college prep environment.

Pat and Cara are back with this month’s Identity Formation wrap up! Tune in as they debrief about recent classroom conversations they and the IF Team had with students about the Newport Beach scandal, racism, human dignity, the college party scene, and more. JSerra's Identity Formation program creates co-institutional small groups that conduct conversations with teens about the cultural toxins that challenge their faith and values. Cara Morales is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor who divides her career between her private practice and JSerra Catholic High School. A Franciscan University graduate, Morales is the founding member of JSerra's theology department and campus ministry program. Additionally, she crafted a vision for JSerra to become one of the first high school's in the country to provide full-time on-campus professional therapy, a practice she sees as increasingly more critical given the continual breakdown of the family. Morales has been married to her hu