161: Navigating Intimacy as a Newlywed Couple | Mary Bruno
Always Hope
In this episode, Dr. Mario Sacasa sits down with Mary Bruno, author of Missing Pieces: Perspectives on Sex for Catholic Women, to explore the realities of intimacy in marriage. Mary opens up about her personal journey with vaginismus and endometriosis, shedding light on the challenges newlyweds face in building emotional and physical connection. They discuss setting realistic expectations for the wedding night, the importance of open communication, and practical tips for navigating intimacy challenges. Whether you're newly engaged or have been married for years, this conversation offers hope,...
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160: Ask Her Out: A No-Nonsense Guide for Catholic Men
Always Hope
In this episode, Dr. Mario Sacasa, LMFT speaks directly to men about how to approach dating with confidence and tact. Through years of working with Catholic singles, Dr. Sacasa has seen a common struggle: good, faithful men often feel intimidated or unsure about how to talk to women in a way that feels natural. So, today he is sharing a simple, three-step approach to help you start conversations, keep them going, and ultimately ask someone out—without cheesy pickup lines or awkward moments. Whether you're a seasoned dater or just starting out, this episode is all about building the skills to...
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159: Margaret Sanger vs. John Paul II: A Battle for Women’s Freedom | Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio
Always Hope
What if Margaret Sanger (Founder of Planned Parenthood) and St. John Paul II (Papal Juggernuat) sat down and debated their divergent ideas about personal freedom, choice, and women's dignity? That's the provocative question posed by today's guest, Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio, theologian and bioethicist. We unpack Sanger’s drive and reasoning, the birth control movement, and why she’s such a divisive figure (e.g. racism and eugenics). Then, we look at John Paul II’s powerful alternative: a view of freedom rooted in dignity, mutual respect, and honoring the differences between men and...
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158: Holy Ghosting: Surviving the Catholic Dating Scene | Maria Mitchell
Always Hope
With Halloween just around the corner, let’s talk about humorously frightening online dating experiences. In this episode, I sit down with Maria Mitchell, the mind behind the hilarious Instagram account "Catholic Dating Nightmares." We dive into the wild world of Catholic dating, where unrealistic expectations and cringe-worthy profiles meet the need for humor and hope. Maria shares the story of how her Instagram started as a joke with friends and quickly became a community of people laughing through their dating struggles. (Laugh or cry right?) Not only does she share some highlights of her...
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157: Getting Unstuck: A Practical Approach to Therapy and Medication
Always Hope
In this solo episode of the Always Hope Podcast, I dive into a question I often hear: "When should I seek counseling, and when is it time to consider medication?" As a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 20 years of experience, I want to provide you with practical guidance on this important topic. We'll explore the differences between depression and anxiety, how to recognize when you're feeling "stuck," and what it means to draw on your natural resources like community support, exercise, and prayer. But what happens when those aren’t enough? I'll walk you through the...
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156: Catholic Feminism and Gender Studies | Dr. Kevin Stuart
Always Hope
I consider Catholicism to be a reasonable faith. One that doesn’t exist in extremes and by doing so can speak to all sides of an issue. And yes, that includes modern feminist theory. So today, I sit down with Dr. Kevin Stuart to discuss the creation of a new Catholic Women's and Gender Studies program at the University of St. Thomas. We dive into the tension between traditional Catholic views and the secular discourse on gender studies. Dr. Stuart explains the goals of the program, which integrates faith, scientific literature, and a Catholic perspective on feminism, gender, and the...
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155. Walking on the Chaotic Waters of Life
Always Hope
We all know what it feels like to be drowning under a pile of work or overwhelmed by difficulties beyond our control. Those moments when our emotions become overwhelming, and we lose a reference point to keep us stable. That feeling of being out-of-control is encapsulated by the symbolism of water in scripture, and that’s what we are diving into in today’s episode. Through stories from the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Mario Sacasa explores how faith can guide us through life's storms. See how these biblical images offer us hope, comfort, and a path forward through God’s grace. Mario...
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154. Dating Solutions for Catholic Young Adults
Always Hope
Why do most people feel like the dating scene has become a dumpster fire? What are the unique challenges faced by Catholic young adults? What is the #1 complaint by women? What is the #1 complaint by men? And what can we do make this whole things a little more enjoyable? Joining me on the show is Rachel Hoover Canto, author of the book “Pretty Good Catholic: How to find, date, and marry someone who shares your faith.” We have a wonderful conversation where we discuss ways men can round out their interests beyond just Catholic things, the importance of meeting people, the value of...
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153. The Importance of Failure
Always Hope
Have you ever tried pursuing a dream only for it to blow up in your face? Have you followed God's call only to encounter hardships beyond anything you could have previously imagined? What do you do afterward? How do you pick up the pieces and keep going? That's what we are unpacking in today's episode of Always Hope. In today's show, I explore why God allows us to fail, offer four steps for responding to failure, discuss mindset shifts that need to happen, and encourage you to begin again. This is my first video episode, too. Check it out on YouTube: Not sure how to start a...
info_outline![[REPOST] 073 - Are you healthy enough to discern a vocation? | Sr Josephine Garrett, CSFN show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/33008357?height=50&width=50)
[REPOST] 073 - Are you healthy enough to discern a vocation? | Sr Josephine Garrett, CSFN
Always Hope
Have you struggled discerning God's plan for your life? Not sure how your emotional health impacts discernment? Do you know if you are healthy enough to start a relationship? If that's you, then stay tuned becuase you are going to get some great recommendations in this conversation. Joining me on the pod today is Sr Josephine Garrett, licensed profressional counselor and all around super-mega-dope nun. In this episode, Sister shares her vocation story, we discuss some of the errors we’ve heard in young people’s discernment questioning, define basic principles of what is healthy enough,...
info_outlineDating in your 30’s can be tough. Finding someone who matches your values, that you find attractive, and that is still single is a challenge. What should you be looking for? Where should you be looking? How do you find the balance between pursing career goals and dating?
Joining me on the show today is Dr. Roy Salgado, counseling professor at the University of Holy Cross, in New Orleans, LA. Roy openly shares his personal experiences of dating in his 30’s, getting married at age 41, and draws upon his counseling knowledge to offer some guidance on the topic.
In today’s episode, we discuss the importance of assessing your priorities and life circumstances, practical ideas on how to find a quality person to date, how your thoughts influence your expectations when dating, ideas for how to properly evaluate the person you are dating, and how to date again following a divorce.
Want to learn how to get a conversation started with a girl you're interested in? Then head over to drmariosacasa.com and download the free Dating Toolkit. It'll teach you what to say to get a wonderful conversation up and running.
Have questions about this episode? DM me on Intsagram @drmariosacasa